Founded in 1996 in New York City, MO’RA is a dynamic and evolving practice with a commitment to the inherent value of design to enhance the quality of life at all levels of exchange. The nexus of architecture, contemporary culture and current technology is the constant focus of our endeavors, from research driven investigations to realized projects. An interdisciplinary practice, MO’RA has resisted becoming specialized in any particular aspect of architecture, and actively seeks new design challenges. Messana and O’Rorke direct teams of professional and talented individuals in projects both in the United States and internationally. The firm invests its creative energies in a broad range of residential, commercial, institutional and theoretical projects, with a scope that varies from furniture and functional products, to interior architecture and the built environment. Collaboration is the essential component in MO’RA’s relationships with clients, they focus their experience, expertise and imaginations into realizing the unique aspirations of each project beyond its expectation.
Awards
2006 Interior Design Magazine’s Best of The Best 2006: Awarded Best of The Best in the category of Residential Freestanding Projects, for the project Ten Broeck Cottage, New York, New York.
2006 The American Institute of Architects New York City Chapter 2006 Design Awards: Award of Citation, for the project StoreFront, New York, New York.
2002 The American Institute of Architects New York State Chapter 2002 Design Awards: Award of Citation, for the project Axis Theatre, New York, New York.
2001 The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter 2001 Design Awards: Award for Interior Architecture for “Skin Care Lab.”
2001 The American Institute of Architects New York State Chapter 2001 Design Awards: Award of Merit, for the project Skin Care Lab, New York, New York.
1999 The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter 1999 Design Awards: Award for Interior Architecture for the project Axis Theatre, New York, New York.
1998 Jyvaskyla Music and Arts Centre International Design Competition: First Runners up Group: 1998.
Exhibitions
2008 “The Wall House” Project 2008 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo Japan
2007 “The Box House” Project 2007 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo Japan
2006 StoreFront, New York City AIA Design Awards Exhibition, New York City AIA Center for Architecture, New York, USA
2006 Zaragoza 2008 Exposition, Water and the Sustainable Development of Cities, Proposal Exhibition, Zaragoza, Spain
2005 “Galahad House” Project 2005 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo Japan
2004 Flight 93 National Memorial Competition Entrants Exhibition., Summerset, Pennsylvania, USA
2004 “Ten Broeck Cottage” Project 2004 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2003 The World Trade Center International Memorial Competition Entrants Exhibition, New York, New York.
2003 The High Line International Competition Entrants Exhibition @ Grad Central, New York, New York
2003 Pearth Amboy High School Competition Entrants Exhibition, Pearth Amboy, New Jersey, USA
2003 “Island House” Project 2003 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2002 Axis Theatre, Design Awards Exhibition, Arts Center, New York, USA
2002 “Savage House” Project 2002 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2001 Skin Care Lab, Design Awards Exhibition, Arts Center, New York USA
2001 “Apple Orchard House.” Project 2001. Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2000 “Fisherman’s House”, Project 2000. Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1999 Axis Theatre, Design Awards Exhibition, Arts Center, New York, USA
1998 “Angels Edge” Project 1998. Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery Tokyo, Japan
1998 Javaskyla Music and Arts Centre. Competition Exhibition, Javaskyla, Finland.
Publications
2008 “The Wall House.” Global Architecture Houses: Project 2008. 2008: 146-148.
2008 Callaghan, Jeremy. “Brave New Work.” British Homes and Gardens. February 2008: pgs. 55-61.
2008 Smith Macisaac, Heather. “Bright Ideas.” Elle Decor, U.S. January/February 2008: pgs. 126-129.
2007 Gage, Marjorie E.. “West Village, A Simple Plan.” New York Home. September/October 2007: pgs. 84-89.
2007 Callaghan, Jeremy. “Inside Their World.” Elle Decor, Croatia. December/January 2007: pgs. 92-99.
2007 Lamotte, Camille. “Dans Le New York, Esprit Pionnier.” Marie Claire Maison. December/January 2007: pgs. 156-162.
2007 Eagan, Maura. “One Plus One is One.” German Architectural Digest. December/January 2007: pgs. 192-201.
2004 Kristal, Marc, “All Work and All Play.” Dwell Magazine, June 2004: pgs. 51-54.
2004 “Ten Broeck Cottage.” Global Architecture Houses, 2004: 118-119.
2004 Bahamón, Alejandro, “Messana O’Rorke Architects”. Offices for Small Spaces, April 2004: pgs. 92-99.
2004 Kristal, Marc, “Through The Roof.” New York Magazine, April 12, 2004: pgs. 48-51.
2004 Cuito, Aurora, “Weinstein Loft / Concrete Brand Imaging, Skin Care Lab, and Arrojo Cutler Studio.” New York Minimalism, 2004: pgs. 40-47, 110-117, and 132-139.
2003 “Island House.” Global Architecture Houses, 2003: 158-159.
2003 C.C. Sullivan. From Ray to Reality.” Architecture, January 2003: 28.
2002 “2002 AIA New York State Design Awards.” AIA News, Inc., Winter 2002.
2002 JS. “Nadelstreifen-Anzug.” AIT, November 2002: 126-131.
2002 Virginia Gardiner. “Make room for Baby.” Dwell, October 2002: 52.
2002 Sheila Kim. “Let it Shine.” Interior Design, October 2002:130.
2002 Sokol, David. “Houses all Around.” Oculus, March/April 2002: 13.
2002 “Savage House.” Global Architecture Houses, 2002: 26-28.
2002 Paul, Donna. “Double Vision.” Interior Design, February 2002: 150-157.
2002 Grossman, Amy. “ Where to Put a TV so big that it’s On When It’s Off.” New York Times, January 31, 2002.
2001 “2001 AIA New York State Chapter Design Awards.” AIA News, Inc., F/W 2001.
2001 “2001 AIA New York Chapter Design Awards.” Oculus, December 2001: 41.
2001 Colman, David. “K-9 Design.” House & Garden,October 2001: 228-230.