Thomas Elliott: Directions

“Beauty is the quality or qualities that give pleasure to the senses or mind. These qualities are both tangible and intangible, creating a visual and perceptual experience that stirs an emotional response. This collection of work showcases beauty in architecture and design. We are on a continual exploration of how to make beautiful buildings, spaces, and objects, always developing our knowledge and experience of what is beautiful, as it is manifested and perceived in different ways.

While some architects work in one style, continuously refining and perfecting it, I love to explore different styles and to learn, discover, and evolve. I grew up in America and have traveled, lived, and studied around the world. Now in Indonesia for more than thirty years, I bring this broad understanding and perspective to our work, while always being inspired by and embracing Indonesian culture, tradition, and the sharing of ideas. It’s this fusion and approach that sets my work apart.

The words you’ve encountered in this book are some of the ways in which we manifest beauty in our work. These words reflect both the physical and sensorial qualities in a design. Sometimes you see them, such as the materiality, palette, and light. Sometimes you feel them, such as anticipation and transitions. These qualities are all highly considered and carefully layered to create residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces that we characterize as “comfort luxury” and that have a positive emotional affect. They are spaces for people to feel at home; oases to enjoy after a long day.

Crafting the spaces comes from thoughtful consideration of the journey through a house, and what people will see and feel as they transition from space to space—from public to private, from collective spaces to sanctuaries.” – Thomas Elliott (from the Afterword)