FIRM

Katherine Chia FAIA and Arjun Desai AIA are the founding principals of Desai Chia Architecture. Since 1996, they have established the firm’s reputation for authentic design, creating inspiring environments expressive of their use and materials; Desai Chia’s portfolio includes cultural, residential, and commercial projects as well as commissions for product design and collaborations with artists. Projects are currently in development throughout the United States and abroad.

In 2018, Architecture Magazine ranked Desai Chia Architecture #19 in the nation for design excellence. In 2021, the firm was an Architizer A+ Firm Awards Finalist for Private Residential Architecture, and they received a Special Mention for the Best in North America and the Best Small Firm categories. Desai Chia’s projects have been published extensively and received many accolades including the AIA Institute Honor Award, AAP Small Firm of the Year Award for Multi-disciplinary Architecture, numerous American Architecture Awards, AIA Design Awards, Interior Design Best of Year Awards, the IDEA Award, and several Good Design Awards. The firm’s work has been exhibited at the Center for Architecture, the Chicago Architecture Biennial, the Istanbul Bienniale, Salone del Mobile Milan, the Herman Miller showrooms in New York and LA, and Parsons The New School of Design.

Katherine Chia FAIA earned her Master of Architecture degree from M.I.T. and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College. Prior to founding Desai Chia Architecture, she worked for Maya Lin on numerous art and architecture commissions. Chia is a registered architect in the states of New York & Connecticut. She has also been a faculty member in the architecture department at Parsons The New School of Design, Co-Chair of the Van Alen Institute’s Program Leadership Council, and a trustee of the United Nations International School. She is currently a Board member and Treasurer of the AIA New York & the Center for Architecture and Trustee Emerita of Amherst College.

Arjun Desai AIA grew up in New Delhi and Mumbai, India.  Prior to founding Desai Chia Architecture, he worked at SHCA/NY on numerous civic projects in New York and Washington, D.C. He earned his Master of Architecture degree from M.I.T. and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bennington College.  Desai is a registered architect in the state of New York and an active member of the AIA NY.

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MISSION

Our architecture celebrates conceptually bold design, deliberate eloquence, and graceful simplicity in order to better our collective experiences of space and place-making. We solve rigorous design problems for institutions, organizations and private clients, driven by our guiding principle that architecture can transform communities. The studio is known for two things: our preference for social and humane architecture, and iconic projects that benefit from our sustainable technical strategies and extensive knowledge of materials.

Rooted in our multidisciplinary background, we seek to blur the boundaries between building and nature through our hallmark approach of integrating light as a unifying theme. Each design opportunity is informed by previous projects and expertise, which allows us the latitude to conduct new research, challenge traditional expectations, and ask bigger questions in order to build inspired and spirited architecture. We nimbly navigate each step of the building’s design and execution: from the conceptual framework uniquely inspired by each client, to thoughtful, agile and tenacious project management, through to the final construction. The results are distinct, evocative, sustainable and enduring buildings, customized for a range of collaborative experiences that address each client’s particular needs.


AWARDS + EXHIBITIONS

AWARDS

2023
Learning by Design Award, Outstanding Project
Future House Award (3)
AIA NY Interiors Residential Review Award
Interior Design Best of Year Award
Interior Design Best of Year Honoree
SARA National Design Award, Honor Award
SARA National Design Award, Merit Award
SARA NY Design Award of Excellence
SARA NY Design Award of Honor

2022
American Architecture Awards (3)
MasterPrize Awards (3)
MasterPrize Awards- Honorable Mentions (2)
NYCxDesign Award
Interior Design Best of Year Award
Interior Design Best of Year Honoree (2)
SARA National Design Awards (3)
SARA NY Design Award
Architizer A+ Award Finalist- Architecture + Light
Architizer A+ Award Finalist- Architecture + Ceiling
BSA / AIA NY Residential Design Citation Award

2021
American Architecture Award
NYCxDESIGN Award
Architizer A+ Firm Awards Finalist- Architecture - Private Residential
Architizer A+ Firm Awards Special Mention- Best in North America
Architizer A+ Firm Awards Special Mention- Best Small Firm
Residential Design Architecture Award- Citation

2020
American Architecture Award
AIA NY Design Award
AIA Connecticut Design Excellence Award
Interior Design Best of Year Honoree
SARA National Design Honor Award
Residential Design Architecture Award
Dezeen- Top 5 Michigan Houses List
NYC Architects list of Top 10 Office Architects
NYC Architects list of Top 15 Residential Architects
Beyond the Built Environment- Great Diverse Designers Library

2019
BSA / AIA NY Housing Award (2)
AIA New York State Design Award
AIA NY Residential Review Award
SARA National Design Honor Award
SARA NY Design Award of Honor
SARA NY Design Award of Merit
Kitchen & Bath News- Best Showroom- Silver Award

2018
Architect Magazine’s Top 50 ranking-
Desai Chia Architecture ranked #19 in the nation for Design
AIA Institute Honor Award
AIA NY Merit Design Award
AIA Long Island Archi Award
NYCxDESIGN Award
Interior Design Best of Year Honoree
SARA NY Design Award
SARA National Design Award
Residential Architect Design Award
International Architecture Award- Architecture Podium
Mies Crown Hall Prize Nominee
FAIA Investiture (Katherine Chia)

2017
AIA Michigan Honor Award
AIA New York State Design Award of Excellence
AIA Long Island Archi Award Commendation
Architect’s Newspaper, Best of Design Award, Residential Single Unit
Dezeen Top 10 US Houses of 2017
Society of American Registered Architects Award of Excellence
Society of American Registered Architects Award of Honor (2)
American Architecture Award
AAP Small Firm of the Year Award in Multi-disciplinary Architecture
NYCxDESIGN Honoree
AZ Design Award
SARA National Design Award (3)
East End Design Award

2016
AIA New York State Design Award
AIA New York Residential Review Design Award
AAP Architecture MasterPrize-Gold
AAP Architecture MasterPrize-Silver
AAP Architecture MasterPrize-Bronze
NYCxDESIGN Award
SARA NY Design Honor Award
SARA National Design Award of Merit (3)
Wood Design & Building: Wood Design Award

2015
American Architecture Award
AIA New York Honor Design Award
Interior Design Best of Year Award
Interior Design Best of Year Honoree
Boston Society of Architects Housing Design Award
MakeItWork Award (3)
SARA NY Silver Honor Award

2014
AIA Boston Society of Architects Housing Award
CODA Design Award

2013
American Architecture Award
Interior Design Best of Year Award
AIA New York Design Award
World Architecture Festival Finalist Award
SARA NY Gold Award of Excellence for Architecture & Sustainability
Architizer Special Mention Design Award

2012
American Architecture Award
A+ Architizer Special Mention Award
SARA NY Honor Award for Product Design
SARA NY Honor Award for Architecture
WAN Design Product Design Award, finalist
WAN Interiors Award- long list selection

2011
Good Design Award

2010
Good Design Award
IDEA Award
D&AD Award Finalist
ICFF Editors’ Award with AFNY  

2009
Architectural Record Product Award

2008
Residential Architect Design Award
Subzero/Wolf Design Award

2007
AIA New York State Design Award
Interior Design Best of Year Award
Residential Architect Design Award

2006
AIA New York State Design Award
Residential Architect Design Award

2005
American Architecture Award
Subzero/Wolf Design Award

2004
AIA New York Design Award

2000
New York Magazine ‘Best of NY’ Award
House Beautiful “100 Top American Designers” List
 

EXHIBITIONS

2023
Future House Exhibition, The European Centre’s Contemporary Space, Athens, Greece

2018
AIA National Conference, Jacob Javits Center, NY, NY

2017
AIA Michigan Honor Awards Exhibition, DCDT Gallery Space, Detroit, MI
The European Centre’s Contemporary Space, Athens, Greece
AIA Residential Review, New York, NY

2016
AIA New York State Design Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY
The European Centre’s Contemporary Space, Athens, Greece
AIA  Residential Review, GD Cucine, New York, NY

2015
AIA NY Design Awards Exhibition, Center for Architecture, NYC
The City and the World Exhibition, Chicago Architecture Biennial

2014
The City and the World Exhibition, Istanbul Design Biennal 

2013
American Architecture Awards, Buenos Aires Biennial
NYRP Edge/ucation Exhibition, Center for Architecture, NYC
Surface Innovation, Center for Architecture, NYC

2012
Surface Series by Desai Chia Architecture,
Salone del Mobile, Milan, Italy

2011
Surface Series by Desai Chia Architecture,
International Contemporary Furniture Fair, NYC

2010
Recess Series by Desai Chia Architecture,
International Contemporary Furniture Fair, NYC

2007
AIA New York State Design Conference, Huntington, NY

2006
Desai/Chia: Work/Process, Parsons The New School for Design
New American Architecture, Herman Miller Gallery, LA 

2005
New American Architecture, Herman Miller Gallery, New York
New York NOW Exhibition, Center for Architecture, NYC

2004
AIA NY Design Awards Exhibition, Center for Architecture, NYC

 

PUBLICATIONS

Desai Chia Architecture’s projects have been featured on television and in numerous architecture and design publications in the United States, Europe, and Asia including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Architectural Record, Dwell, Interior Design, Architectural Digest, ThePLAN, New York Magazine, Residential Architect, Elle Décor, Elle Japan, Casabella, POOL, and Surface Asia.

2023
Interni, Arte Domestica, Roxbury House feature by Matteo Vercelloni
Residential Design, Roxbury House feature by S. Claire Conroy
Interior Design : Best in Design, Roxbury House & Copake Lake House features

2022
The Women who Changed Architecture, Princeton Architectural Press. Feature on Katherine Chia FAIA, edited by Jan Cigliano Hartman
Livings- Detail 03, Archilab (Korea), Montauk House
Interior Design, Best of Year Issue, December 2022, Greenwich Village Residence

2021
Metropolis Magazine, “Gabled Roofs Experience a Revival Across America”, by Kelly Beamon
Interior Design Best of Design, “Montauk House” feature
Madame Architect feature on Katherine Chia FAIA

2020
Interior Design, “Force of Nature”, by Jane Margolies
Dwell.com, “A Black Gable Home Opens Wide to the Appalachian Landscape,” by Luo Jingmei
Residential Design, Residential Design Awards feature, Michigan Lake House
Women In Design, Katherine Chia featured as one of the top 75 women in design. Book cover: Michigan Lake House
Dezeen, “Desai Chia Architecture perches black Ledge House on rocky hillside", by Kristine Klein

2019
Trends Magazine (A Times of India Publication), “Katherine Chia & Arjun Desai: Building Communities,” by Tina Thakrar, Cover Feature Story
Architect Magazine’s Top 50 issue- Desai Chia Architecture ranked #19 in the nation for Design

2018
The New York Times, “The Long-term Beach House,” by Tim McKeough
Hudson Modern, “LM Guest House,” Monacelli Press, by David Sokol, Cover Story
Homes for Our Times, “Michigan Lake House”, Taschen, by Philip Jodidio
ARCHITECT, 'Michigan Lake House,” Residential Architect Design Awards
Architecture Bois Magazine, “Michigan Lake House”
POOL Magazine, Issue 99, feature on Desai Chia

2017
ARCHITECT, 'Michigan Lake House"
Dwell, "Protect & Preserve," by Sarah Cox
THE PLAN, “At One with Nature.” Pagliari, Francesco. Cover story
The American House: 100 Contemporary Homes, “Michigan Lake House",” by Hannah Jenkins
Interior Design. “6 Design-Minded Offices in the USA and China," by Athena Waligore
The End Magazine, Design Awards Issue

2016
The New York Times, “An Architect’s Ties to Her Mixing Bowls: Metal Rings,” by Ligaya Mishan
Interior Design. “Michigan Lake House by Desai Chia Architecture: 2016 Best of year for Country House,” by Craig Kellogg
Best of Office Architecture & Design, vol II, Sandow Media, by Cindy Allen

2015
Interior Design, “Serving Up Major Minimalism” by Craig Kellogg

2014
Casabella, Desai Chia Architecture: LM Guest House
Building Better: Sustainable Architecture for Family Homes, Gestalten edited by Sven Ehmann, Cover Story
Best of Education and Culture Architecture & Design, Sandow Media by Cindy Allen
Competitions 2014 Annual, “FloodLAB by Desai Chia Architecture”

2013
The Wall Street Journal, “The Greening of a Midcentury Classic” by Susanna Sirefman
Architectural Digest, “Inner Space: A loft Expansion in Manhattan” by Brad Goldfarb
Interior Design, “The Simple Life,” by Craig Kellogg
Dwell Asia, “LM Guest House”
Best of Residential Architecture & Design, Sandow Media by Cindy Allen

2012
Surface Asia, “Desai Chia Architecture” 

2011
Refreshing Offices, Phoenix Publishing

2010
The Architect’s Newspaper, “Come Clean”
Residential Architect, “Home Front” by Meghan Drueding
WOW Converted Spaces, “Madison Square,” Loft Publications by Julio Fajardo, Cover Story

2008
Residential Architect, “Guiding Light,” by Meghan Dreuding, Cover Story
Atlas for Living, Loft Publications
Houses / Maisons / Hauser, Pulbisher H.F. Ullmann

2007
Food & Wine,  “The Experimental Kitchen” by Christine Quinlan

2006
Indian Design and Interiors, “Close Up: Desai Chia Architecture”
The Architect’s Newspaper, “Everything is Illuminated” by Andrew Yang
Residential Architect, “Bathed in Light” by Shelley Hutchins
The New York Times, “Let in the Light” by Fred Bernstein
2000 Architects, Images Publishing
Lofts & Apartments in NYC 2, Edizioni L’Archivolto by Matteo Vercelloni, Cover Story
Plastic Design, Te Neues Publishing Co. by Christian Campos
Ultimate New York Design, Te Neues Publishing Co. by Anja Lllorella Oriol
Interior Design, “Symphony in Ash” by Sheila Kim-Jamet

2005
Architectural Record, “A Kitchen Light Box and Bathroom Lanterns Serve as
"Beacons in a New York City Loft” by Rita Catinella
Houses, H. Kliczkowski, Multilingual Edition, by Alejandro Bahamon
Small Houses, Taschen
Small Apartments, Taschen
Lofts, Loft Publications

2003
The Smart Loft, Harper Design International by James Grayson Trulove
Lofts, Loft Publications by Ana Christina G Canizares
Mini House, Harper Design International by Alejandro Bahamon
Interior Design, “Clean Sweep” by Sheila Kim

2002
The New York Observer, “Hitting the Right Note”
Interior Design, “Peace Core,”  by Sheila Kim

2001
The New York Times Magazine,  “Design Inspirations” 

2000
Elle Japan, “Elle Special”
Interior Design, “Nolita Natural” by Jen Renzi
The New York Times, “Like Music to the Eyes” by William Hamilton
Time Out New York, “Spa Check: The Next Generation” 

1999
Elle Décor, Italy,  “Lusso & Semplicita” by Laura Maggi

1998
Elle Décor, “Banker’s Trust” by Joseph Giovannini
New York Magazine, “Best of New York: Loft Conversion”
 

LECTURES/PANELS/JURIES

2024
University of Texas at Austin Lecture
Dallas Architecture Forum Lecture
Prize Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)

2023
AIA Tennessee Conference Lecture, “Desai Chia Architecture : Community Making”
AIA South Carolina Design Awards Jury (Arjun Desai & Katherine Chia)
AIA NY Gil Oberfield Lecture, “Desai Chia Architecture : DNA”
Architizer Vision Awards Jury (Arjun Desai & Katherine Chia)
AIA San Francisco Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)

2021
AIA DC Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)
AIA Iowa Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)
Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation Emerging Leaders presentation, “Imagination”
Render of the Year Award Jury, Arch Out Loud (Arjun Desai & Katherine Chia)

2020
AIA Hong Kong Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia, Jury Chair)
AIA Interiors Speed Presentation, “Reviving the Old with the New: Watermill House”
Volume Zero / Tiny House Design Awards Jury (Arjun Desai & Katherine Chia)
AIA Peconic Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)
BSA / AIANY Residential Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)
SARA NY Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)
DesignBiz interview with Cindy Allen of Interior Design

2019
AIA Architecture Honor Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)
School of Visual Arts (SVA), New York, NY, “Decompression” lecture
AIA Interiors Speed Presentation, “Building Community: Quartz”
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI, “Anchoring Place” lecture
AIA SF Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)
Masonry Institute of Michigan / AIA Michigan Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)
Switch / Central Park Book Studio Competition Jury (Katherine Chia)

2018
AIA Michigan Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia, Jury Chair)
Dezeen’s Spirit of the City Talk at A/D/O in Brooklyn, NY
Perspective USA Design Conference, New York, NY. “Anchoring Place” lecture

2017
Illinois School of Architecture, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Desai Chia: Constructions” lecture
AIA Michigan Design Retreat, “The Michigan Lake House: Building Community and Collaboration” lecture
Perspective USA Design Conference, New York, NY. “Intersections of Collaboration” lecture
Boston Architectural College, “Constructions” lecture

2013
"Surface Innovation" Panel Discussion, Center for Architecture
MOCATalks Panel, "Fashion Architecture Food", MOCA New York
OpenHouseNewYork "What's New What's Next" Panel with Cindy Allen

2012
Good Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)

2010
Van Alen Institute, Metropolis/AFNY Design Panel
Western Red Cedar Architectural Design Awards Jury (Katherine Chia)

2007
Desai/Chia: Work/Process, Lecture, Bennington College
Desai/Chia: Work/Process, Lecture and Exhibition, Parsons The New School of Design


COLLABORATORS

Acoustilog
AF New York
Ali Tayar, Parallel Design Partnership
Apex Engineering & Management, Inc.
Aquatic Consultants Inc.
Aran Inc.
Arthur H. Howland & Associates, P.C.
Arturo Padilla, Architect
Arup
Atila Rona Structural Engineer
Attila Uysal Lighting Design
Avoid Obvious
AYS Engineering Group Inc.
Barylski Land Surveying
Bayshore Engineers
Berkeley Structural Engineers
Berkshire Wilton Partners
Bill Stratton Building Company
Blanco Architecture
Callahan Consulting
Campion Hruby Landscape Architects
Cas Engineering
Chilmark Construction / Catalyst Chilmark, LLC
Christine Sciulli Light + Design
Classic Renovations LLC
Colorado Geoscience
Consulting Engineering Services (CES)
Cooley Monato Studio
Cora Construction
Crawford Associates
CSI Mechanical Engineers
Cushman & Wakefield (Toronto)
David Kufferman Structural Engineers
Darcstudio
Darling Botanicals
D.B. Bennett Engineering
Desciencelab
Digital Pocket
Easling Construction
Edwards & Zuck Consulting Engineers
Electronic Environments (EENY)
Elephants Custom Furniture
Elhert & Bryan Engineering
Environment Architects
Edwin Tyler Lindell Architects (ETL)
Flank Architecture
Friedman & Oppenheimer Engineers
Gentry Construction
GeoDesign
Gilsanz Murray Steficek Structural Engineers
Giovannitti Inc.
Gregory Clawson, Architect
Hajek Land Planning
Headwater Construction
James Gainfort Consulting Architect
Jamie Purinton Landscape Architect
Jaros, Baum & Bolles Consulting Engineers
Jason Dismukes Consulting Engineers LLC
John Lei Photography
Joshua McHugh Photography
Jozwiak Civil Engineering
JRM Construction
Kane Contracting
Laguardia Design Group
Lilker Engineering
Loffredo Brooks Architects
Manhattan CG
Marcel Dion Lighting Design
Mark Craemer Photography
Michael Errico Landscape Architect, P.C.
Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
Miller Pacific Engineering Group
Miguel De la Torre Arquitectos (MT Arquitectos)
Moberg Fireplaces
Murray Engineering
New York Building Technology Group
Noranda SP
NYL Structural Engineers
Oberkamper & Associates Civil Engineers
Old Structures
Olga Zakharova
OSD Outside
Outsource Consultants
PK30 Systems
Paggi Martin DelBene Civil Engineers
Paul Warchol Photography
Peter Walker Partners
Peterson Environmental
Petretti Construction
Pierce Lighting Studio
Richter & Ratner
Ricky Liu & Associates (Taipei)
Robert Derector Telecommunications
Rodkin Cardinale Consulting Engineers
Ryder Construction
Saskas Surveying Company
Sears Architects
Skyline Engineering
Smith + Anderson (Toronto)
Space Logic (Singapore)
Spectra Audio Visual Design
Steven Winter Associates
Studio dell'Arte
Summerhill Landscapes
Surface Design Inc.
Teamwork Construction
TG Tuffy Ltd.
Thomas Thompson Lighting Design
Thomson & Cooke Architects
TR Technologies
TwinHats
Tucker Associates
Vanguard Construction
Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architects
Walters Storyk Design Group
William Vitacco Associates
Winter Tuffy Construction
Woodbine Custom Furniture
X-Design Inc.
ZZZ Carpentry