Alan Barlis

BarlisWedlick is an award-winning architecture and interiors firm at the forefront of high-design-meets-high-performance construction. Architect Alan Barlis is a co-founder and Principal of the firm which has been a champion for design’s potential to create an equitable and sustainable future and marries an ambitious aesthetic vision with cutting-edge building techniques and leveraging of existing resources. A pioneer in Passive House design in the United States, the firm works in tandem with clients, to achieve their lifetime sustainable and wellness goals. In addition to its lauded private residential projects, its portfolio of complete Passive House projects is vast, including New York State’s first certified Passive House home in Hudson, NY; the world’s first new-construction Passive House church in Kinderhook, NY; and multiple low-income housing projects accomplished in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The firm’s other critically acclaimed projects include the Beckoning Path Wellness Center in Armonk, NY, the Fox Hall house in Ancram, NY, and residential projects for the performance artist Marina Abramovic.

When you were a kid, what did you dream of becoming? Did any of those childhood ambitions lead you to where you are today?
I moved around a lot as a very young child, so placemaking became an important activity, from building forts, playing with blocks or Legos, or, eventually, drawing fanciful buildings and cities.

Is there a particular designer, artwork, or design movement that deeply inspires you? How has it influenced your own style or philosophy?
I discovered Frank Lloyd Wright on the bookshelves of my small-town library amidst the 4 books they had filed under “Architecture.”  I was blown away by his drawings and vision, and still find inspiration from his work today. His deference to nature and surroundings and the environment should be fundamental for all designers.

Which designers do you love following on social media? What draws you to their work or perspective?
I love DC Hillier’s love affair with midcentury houses, and no one is funnier or more potent than Vik Muniz.

How would you describe your design philosophy? Has it evolved over time, and if so, how?
For several decades, the firm’s vision has been to synthesize high design with the highest standards of sustainability. As our work is rooted in sustainability, we continue to achieve the highest level of performance for each project and craft homes that are equipped for a life well-lived.

Tell us a bit about where you live: How long have you been there, and how does your environment shape your creative process?
My family and I bought a townhouse in Brooklyn two years ago and I’m now getting to have the experience of not only being the designer on a project but also the client. The house was built in 1831, one of the oldest in the neighborhood, which I love as I believe all design should embrace and struggle with the history of a place, and that’s a lot of history.

Was there a specific turning point or experience when you realized that design was your true calling?
I feel I always knew I wanted to be a designer, but to answer this question I have to admit that the day I skipped the MCAT’s to dance at a concert instead, cementing my future.

Which of your projects or products are you most proud of, and what makes them stand out for you?
I’m most proud of the Hudson Passive Project – the firm’s first Passive House build, and the first project in New York State to be certified by the Passive House Institute, at the time the 11th in the country. This project has paved the way for our firm to achieve high-performance properties that do not compromise on aesthetics and still meet all of the client’s needs, which we continue to strive to do in every project.

In your opinion, what is the most significant challenge facing the design world today? How do you think designers should respond to it?
Climate change. That’s the largest challenge facing all of us as human beings, and subsequently as designers of the spaces that humans being inhabit, and it’s our responsibility to take every opportunity to make informed and appropriate decisions that will serve not only our clients but the greater good of the planet.

What are you currently working on? Are you exploring any new materials, techniques, or ideas that you’re excited about?
We have a project working towards the Living Building Challenge right now, which has been a long-standing dream of mine. This set of principles is the highest level of sustainability in the world, and I’m thrilled to be able to not only complete this project for myself and my team but to also be able to showcase how accessible this can be.

What’s on the horizon for you? Any upcoming projects, events, or goals you’re particularly looking forward to?
I really want to write the follow up to our first book, Classic Modern. It will be more focused on principles of efficiency and sustainability and how our firm brings those design elements to every project we work on.

What’s a favorite movie, band, or song that has inspired or shaped your creative mind?
My favorite movie is an obscure animated film from 1973, Fantastic Planet. It’s based on a French Science fiction book about a race of humans being held captive by giant, humanoid aliens. If you aren’t familiar, check it out. The themes around taking care of each other, and the planet still resonate today.

To discover more, visit BarlisWedlick and follow on Instagram @barliswedlick.