This project developed a decommissioned college site in rural Staffordshire, UK, into a modern residence. The original development plan proposed four small apartments. Our plan revised, driven by strategic market research and appraisal-backed financial projections, was a single luxury home, maximized profit while reducing complexity.

The design and build were led by an independent team and supported by a detailed program, hyperrealistic scale model, and full construction specifications. Resistance from consultants and legacy stakeholders was overcome through independent valuation and hands-on leadership throughout.

Excavation and construction incorporated geothermal groundwork and off-grid capacity planning. The crew consisted of a handpicked team of builders and generalists. Architectural certification was secured through a local firm willing to align with the custom brief and design intent. All stages of construction were appraised and insured to meet mortgage lending standards satisfying formal inspection benchmarks (“belt and braces”).

Unexpected challenges included funding disruption during mid-construction, resolved through reappraisal and private finance. Pre-sale marketing was conducted using photorealistic 3D renders alone, yielding two daily viewings over two weeks. The house was purchased in cash before physical completion.

The final structure set a county sales record, exceeding appraisals and elevating local property values. It was later featured in The Telegraph as a “Modernist Marvel,” one of four homes celebrated for eco-conscious, contemporary design.

Tree of Water and Power is a development in solar mounting technology, for applications that benefit from increased surface area. TWP utilizes fractal geometry and Fibonacci sequence modeling, maximizing surface area with minimal material usage and unmatched efficiency.

Each tree supports over 1,000 cells across ~155 sq ft of dual-sided surface area. Compared to a conventional flat-mount solar system, for instance, this solution achieves the same output with 90% less material, no reinforcement, and a dramatically lower total system weight (~150 lb vs. 1,500 lb typical).

Mimicking biological and natural branching systems - trees, lungs, rivers, galaxies etc. - TWP follows a fractal algorithm and Da Vinci’s “area-preserving rule.” Few modular components (straight aluminum tubes, custom connectors) scale efficiently, producing natural tree-like forms without aesthetic intention.

Unlike phototropic or traditional solar arrays, this system distributes cells in all directions, smoothing output across daylight hours and eliminating peak-hour dependency. Its static design has no moving parts, yet outperforms dynamic systems in energy-to-weight and cost-to-output ratios, ideal for utility-scale.

These additional applications contribute to land usability, soil regeneration, and environmental resilience.

Constructed entirely from recyclable anodized aluminum, the structure is paint-free, bolt-free, and designed to last decades with minimal maintenance. Its appearance and function improve over time, oxidizing naturally and integrating into the landscape.

Si-Huis lamps prioritize function over form. Designed for zero-glare, color-accurate light diffusion, each fixture incorporates industrial-grade materials and refined optical strategies typically reserved for photography or aerospace.

These early-generation lamps use hand-polished aerospace aluminum and silk diffusers with tensile strength greater than steel. The designs optimize for focus, clarity, and dimensional stability. Each lamp functions as a light tool — reducing contrast, controlling glare, maximizing visual comfort over long periods.

Photographic lighting informed the development of specialized diffusers compatible with both LED and flash systems, bridging the gap between studio and domestic lighting.

Each lamp is engineered around principles of colorimetry, white balance, and metamerism. Materials like silk, borosilicate glass, and high-CRI LEDs, the lamps provide superior visual clarity, rendering full-spectrum and homogeneously diffused light.

This solo design-build case study by MST draws inspiration from the thousands of derelict homestead cabins scattered across Southern California’s high desert. The structure reimagines the 120 sq ft cabins built under the U.S. Small Tract Act of 1938, designed for resilience in harsh desert conditions. These buildings have been tested for almost a century, and have basic structural lessons to teach us, especially useful at scale.

After evaluating the failure points of decaying homesteads - most often the plywood sheathing - this project prioritizes a frame-first construction approach. Solid timber (2x4s, 2x6s, etc.) Structural integrity is achieved using non-plywood shear bracing techniques not typically employed.

The house was conceived to optimize thermal performance through design and material choice. Matte black cladding functions as a shield and a high-efficiency infrared emitter, cooling faster, like the Bedouins’ robes. Low thermal mass timber construction prevents the overheating common in brick cabins, which continue to radiate heat during the night.

The structure is now utilized as a meditation and yoga retreat, designed to shelter without severing connection to the desert.

This project proposes the unified development of two adjacent lots in Venice Beach. The objective is to create a cohesive, contemporary environment that balances privacy, community access, and timeless architectural character.

The design language is grounded in raw structural honesty - exposed Ipe wood, oxidized steel fencing, and large open-glass planes. The residential portion is elevated for privacy, while the commercial frontage invites public engagement.

No façades, no cladding - just expressive structure and a limited palette: Ipe, oxidized steel, and glass. Ipe cannot be eaten by termites or similar pests. It is used in the construction of wooden piers, submerged in the ocean without losing integrity.