Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1172262
116 books stacked side by side, which transformed the flag into a waving wall of information about the great state. Future shock. Ragni: Office is home, home is hospitality, hospitality is office … It's all about convergence. Hofficepality? Strategy. Mayfield: Our studio mentality thrives on talented individuals and shared creative ideas. We often have critiques and pin-ups of projects where the studio offers opinions and sometimes even debates what is relevant and timeless. Ragni's roots. Ragni: I started in a tidy New England college, studying the many joys that is Business Administration. But when I told my Broadway theater parents [his father, Gerome Ragni, co-wrote the musical Hair] what my major was, they said, "Business? You mean show business?" From this shattering disapproval, I found myself in an Art History survey class, and the fog of practicality lifted to reveal the magic that is the making of art and culture. Ultimately I ended up beginning my architectural education i n t h e g r a d u a t e program at SCI-Arc, a somewhat avant-garde architecture school in Los Angeles. I had a short stint in L.A. with Frank Gehry; his office managed to successfully capture the joy, essence, and energy one finds in a thriving architecture classroom. While he is rightfully known for crafting with scissors and paper, he was on the forefront of many things we now take for granted in the industry. Mayfield and Miralles. Mayfield: I worked on a large-scale master-plan project during my early time at Enric Miralles' office in Barcelona. I was only with Enric for a year but luckily worked on a small house project with him, so I was able to collaborate on a very personal level with one of architecture's geniuses. After he caught me being silly one time while I was working, he told me to "always keep architecture fun." I think this has resonated through my work over the years in various ways. Making memories. Mayfield: We try to make a memorable object for every project. We have designed carpets, furniture, wallpapers, fabrics, and art installations. Every aspect is thoughtfully crafted and detailed, from a large Instagram art piece to the stitching on a pillow. Doodles. Mayfield: Erick creates the most beautiful doodles during meetings and phone calls. We turned them into stickers, so several of his most coveted doodles were placed around town. There is scientific proof that doodlers have a better memory recall than non-doodlers, according to the Harvard Medical School (and my neuropsychologist husband). One thing. Mayfield: Every space needs natural daylight and great lighting. One of my favorite spaces is the Cy Twombly building at the Menil. It's inspiring because it is so simple, but very complex to achieve such perfection of filtered light. Influences. Ragni: I'm a fan of the maniacs. Those to whom there is no compromise and perhaps less investment in "normality." The Scarpas, Schindlers and Gaudís of the world. We never knew. Ragni: People think I'm joking about this. It began one hungover morning when I was a sophomore at The University of Vermont in Burlington (home of Ben & Jerry's ice cream). I had that annoying half-hungry, half- nauseous feeling, and all we had in the fridge was a log of half-eaten raw cookie dough. Later in the day, I went with a group of friends to the main outpost of B&J's for a snack. My roommate from freshman year worked there and was in charge of making odd one-off creations. Fresh from my hangover, I recommended cookie dough flavor, and within a week, it was a sample flavor. B&J's sent me a letter saying they could not confirm I was the originator, but I know I invented it. It's my singular great contribution to modern society. The Preston, a Hines development in Houston Kelie Mayfield Erick Ragni Avenue Grove in Houston