AKAR ARchiTecture

AKAR ARchiTecture AKAR ARchiTecture + Design founded in 1997, was founded on simple idea: That building design is a poe We are intrigued by the wisdom of vernacular architecture.

AKAR ARchiTecture + Design, Iowa City, Iowa founded in 1997, was founded on simple idea: That building design is a poetic response to people, nature and function. It should be timeless, inspiring and capturing the spirit of its environment. This regionalism is frequently used in our design process to articulate the sense of place with common sense sustainability.The firm’s work is known for its ge

ometric and simple forms defining landscaped spaces in-between architecture to evoke serenity that quietly celebrates human intellect, innovation and craftsmanship.

Construction at Setting Sun House on Lake Macbride is making progress. Pool plaster work starts next week.
09/04/2026

Construction at Setting Sun House on Lake Macbride is making progress. Pool plaster work starts next week.

Our office is filled with models from more than 30 years of designing houses. We started with museum board and corrugate...
09/01/2026

Our office is filled with models from more than 30 years of designing houses. We started with museum board and corrugated sheets, moved on to wood, and now we 3D-print them.

The owners keep the houses, and we keep the models. Not a bad trade, right?

Here are a few of the newest additions. UltiMaker

Fireplaces are in their final stages of completion at Setting Sun. Three textures of local Anamosa stone come together h...
08/20/2026

Fireplaces are in their final stages of completion at Setting Sun. Three textures of local Anamosa stone come together here: smooth vein cut stone reveals the linear grain, ribbed lower courses create a matte, heavier base, and cross cut bands expose the stone’s flower like swirls. The horizontal banding will continue into the walnut paneling. That comes next!

Tile work continues at the house on Lake Macbride. Complex patterns, challenging details, and a lot of skilled hands bri...
08/11/2026

Tile work continues at the house on Lake Macbride. Complex patterns, challenging details, and a lot of skilled hands bringing the main bathroom to life.

Nancy Pearson

Curved mesh roofs, courtyard, cantilevers… some wild possibilities are taking shape for the transformation of an existin...
08/11/2026

Curved mesh roofs, courtyard, cantilevers… some wild possibilities are taking shape for the transformation of an existing midcentury house in Iowa City.

Fresh project on the boards. Time to experiment, explore, and create.

Details matter. Retaining walls, chimney caps, stepping stones, masonry, tiles… Individually, they are just parts. Toget...
07/10/2026

Details matter. Retaining walls, chimney caps, stepping stones, masonry, tiles… Individually, they are just parts. Together, they give the house its soul. A few images from today’s site visit at Lake Macbride.

SSite visit during yesterday’s thunderstorm. Today, the window stickers came off, and suddenly Lake Macbride appeared on...
06/11/2026

SSite visit during yesterday’s thunderstorm. Today, the window stickers came off, and suddenly Lake Macbride appeared on the horizon.

It is amazing what 12 foot high, floor to ceiling windows can do. From the pool in the backyard to the rippling lake and the dramatic cloudy sky beyond, everything is framed. The view unfolds in layers, drawing the landscape deep into the house. The outdoors is no longer something you look at. It becomes part of the architecture.

A small addition. A forty year relationship.Honored to have the Woolf Sun Room featured in the Spring 2026 issue of Iowa...
06/10/2026

A small addition. A forty year relationship.

Honored to have the Woolf Sun Room featured in the Spring 2026 issue of Iowa Architect magazine.

What was once a screened porch is now a light filled four season room that connects house, garden, sun, rain, and shadow. The project is built on a simple idea: architecture should deepen our relationship with nature while evolving with the lives of those who call it home.

Most meaningful of all is the trust behind it. This family has returned to the same architectural lineage for more than four decades, allowing the house to grow thoughtfully over time.

The best homes are never finished. They evolve with us.

Update from today’s site visit at the house on Lake Macbride.A great deal of flatwork is now taking shape in the courtya...
06/03/2026

Update from today’s site visit at the house on Lake Macbride.
A great deal of flatwork is now taking shape in the courtyards and along the lakefront. As the landscape and architecture become increasingly intertwined, the axial connection to the lake continues to strengthen. With each new element finding its place, the design intent is becoming more apparent, and the alignment between house, land, and water is beginning to reveal itself.

Honored to have my photograph, Shadows Tell the Stories, recognized in the 2026 AIA National Photography Competition.Thi...
06/01/2026

Honored to have my photograph, Shadows Tell the Stories, recognized in the 2026 AIA National Photography Competition.

This image was captured at Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, Rajasthan, one of my favorite places in India. Built in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II, the observatory contains thirteen monumental instruments designed for naked eye observation of the sun, moon, planets, and stars.

For me, this photograph is ultimately about the power of shadows. Architecture is often revealed not by the walls themselves, but by the light and shadow that define them. Here, the shadows carve space, emphasize form, and bring a remarkable sense of depth and three dimensionality to the composition.

The pigeon, resting precisely where I hoped it would, was a fortunate gift of timing. Yet moments like these are also the result of years spent observing, waiting, and learning to recognize the unusual within the ordinary.

Sometimes, shadows tell the stories that architecture alone cannot.

Address

1027 Rochester Avenue
Iowa City, IA
52245

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13193514111

Website

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