Fowlkes Studio

Catherine and VW Fowlkes took the road less traveled on their way to careers in architecture. The couple first met in New York City, where she was a singer-songwriter and he was a producer for ABC News. Several years later, they encouraged one another to pursue what for each had been a long-held artistic dream: applying to architecture school.

Their passion for the craft had been formed early. Catherine grew up surrounded by the art of her mother, painter Edith Kuhnle, then studied the history of art and architecture and studio art in college. When VW was young, he loved to take objects apart and see how they were constructed—a habit that has given him the confidence to play with design norms.

Native Washingtonians, the duo eventually returned to DC and in 2009 launched Fowlkes Studio, located in Dupont Circle. The eight-member firm, says Catherine, is committed to “intelligent design that celebrates craft and represents the sensibilities of its clients.”

The partners’ early training in stagecraft has given them a unique appreciation for how people interact with their environments. “Spaces can be experienced very differently,” VW reflects, “depending on how you enter and leave, and how you relate to adjacent spaces and to the outdoors.”

See more at HandD.com/FowlkesStudio