Big isn’t necessarily better, according to architect Margaret McCurry. “The size of homes has become so inflated in relation to the site in recent years that the uniqueness of the architecture and the site is lost,” she says. “These McMansions consume natural resources and contribute to the loss of interaction between family members.” McCurry, who started her career in the late 1960s and merged her firm with that of her husband, Stanley Tigerman, in 1982, is known for modern houses that demonstrate her love of vernacular architecture and fondness for classicism.

Her philosophy is simple: “My client’s personalities, environmental concerns and the site configuration are all grist for my creative mill,” she says. “Buildings are an amalgam of the owner’s personality and the characteristics of the site.” There is one aspect of her profession that she believes potential clients don’t understand: “People think hiring an architect is too expensive,” she says, “but our artistic training as spatial problem solvers can help move a project forward with satisfying results.” McCurry feels “green” design can also help shave costs. “I’ve tried when possible to practice passive solar architecture, orienting buildings correctly and using cross ventilation to minimize energy consumption,” she says. “More of my clients are investing in solar and geothermal heating and cooling. They benefit the environment and represent a real savings.”

Margaret McCurry

312-644-5880

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