Archie Pizzini is a licensed American architect, artist and teacher educated at Rice University (BA Arch, BFA Painting), the University of Houston (MArch), and RMIT Melbourne (PhD Arch). He formed HTAP in Vietnam with Hoanh Tran following twenty years practicing art and architecture in the U.S.

In addition to being a Design Principal at HTAP since 2005, he maintains a parallel career as an artist, having had many exhibitions over a thirty-year career, including several recent shows of his photography in Vietnam and Japan. In his design work the two strands of art and architecture combine to push his ideas further.  His experience also includes several years in engineering companies, an aspect that makes implementation an integral part of his design process.

He has taught through various universities including RMIT Melbourne’s Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Design programs.  His work, including writings, photos, architecture and interviews, has appeared in books and magazines in the U.S., Germany, Thailand, Korea, Turkey and Vietnam.

His research, writing and photography centers on close observation of the built and social context, with emphasis on making and improvisation.  His design work is often inspired by this and contains an idea that everyday design solutions by non-designers, as seen in places like Vietnam, often demonstrate a relevance through economy, elegance, sustainability and resilience that could immensely benefit design efforts throughout the world.

Publications

I PLUS

Issue 020, June 2017

→ Maison Marou Saigon Interior (featured project)

ARCH+

Issue 227, February 2016

→ HTA+Pizzini Architects: In-Situ

ARCH+

Issue 227, Feb 2016

→ HTA+Pizzini Architects: You Are Here

ART4D

Issue 232, Dec 2015

Jan 2016, Ho Chi Minh City from Individuals to the City
→ “Underlying Systems—Interview with Hoanh Tran + Archie Pizzini”
→ “In Situ”,
A photo essay from the gallery exhibition by Hoanh Tran and Archie Pizzini
→ “A Journey to the Present”,
The arts and design scene in Ho Chi Minh City, by Hoanh Tran and Archie Pizzini

MONOCLE

The Voyager, Episode 13, Ho Chi Minh City, November 2015

Interview with Hoanh Tran and Archie Pizzini
→ “Observation and Negotiation at the Cultural Shoreline” by Archie Pizzini
Book for completion of RMIT Melbourne, School of Architecture PhD
October 2015

KIEN TRUC & DOI SONG (ARCHITECTURE & LIFE)

Issue 85, June 2013 -- De Moi

Khong An Hiep Cu, (The New not Intimidating the Old)
→ Galerie Quynh Dong Khoi featured project

CITE Magazine

Issue 70, Spring 2007

→ “Abandoned in Place: Southern Pacific Rail Yards are a Ghost of Houston’s Past”
Photos: Archie Pizzini, Martha Thomas, Clay Harmon Text: Bruce C. Webb

16 HOUSES - Designing the Public’s Private House

Michael Bell, The Monacelli Press, 2004

→ “Flip Flop House” by Archie Pizzini and William Williams (WPa architects) accompanying the exhibition of their design
at Diverse Works Art Space in Houston.

ROW: Trajectories Though the Shotgun Shack

Rice University School of Architecture, 2004

William Williams and David Brown (eds.)
HTA+Pizzini Architects: You Are Here
→ “Making Do: Beyond Getting By”, chapter authored by Archie Pizzini and William Williams accompanying their installation at Project Row Houses in Houston.

Exhibitions

ICE BAR

Galerie Quynh

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, June 2017

IN SITU HIEN TRANG

Galerie Quynh

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, May 2015

AMASS/interval

Antique Street Gallery

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, June 2014
Solo Photo Exhibition

MESSENGERS

Art Islands Contemporary Art Exhibition

Oshima Jima, Tokyo, Japan, October 2012
Photos of Saigon spaces. shown in group exhibition

A WINDOW UNTIL THE RAINS COME

ALBB Open Studio

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 2010
Week-long artist residency as part of ALBB exhibition series

THE COLLABORATIVE PROJECT 2002

Blumenthal Sheet Metal / Fotofest 2002

Design and installation of photo-environment, with Scot Brooks. A collaborative installation by artists, architects, designers and critics.

MEMORY ROOM

Project Row Houses, Round 15

Houston, Texas, Oct. 2001 - Feb. 2002
Art Installation, designed and constructed with William Williams (WPa architects)

16 HOUSES

Diverse Works

Houston, Texas, Sept. 1998
Group exhibition of low-cost house designs for a historic African-American community.

RE-CONTEXTUALIZE

Prairie Avenue Gallery

Chicago, June 1992
Group exhibition of drawings

PAINTINGS

Galerie Michele

Paris, Oct. 1991
Solo exhibition of paintings

master’s exhibition

Place Vendome

Paris, June 1989
Master of Architecture thesis projects exhibited with the Ecole Des Beax Arts Paris

UNITITLED

Suzanne Street Gallery

Houston, Texas, Nov. 1986
Exhibition of paintings with Peter Merwin