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Frank Harmon’s portfolio might be
regional, but he draws on influences and experiences beyond
his native North Carolina. Although he started his architectural
training at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in the
1960s, he moved to London to submerge himself in the city’s
rich cultural landscape and to spend a year at the Architectural
Association (AA). "The AA was the center of the architectural
world at that time. Jim Sterling taught there. It was very
exciting," recalls Harmon. One year abroad turned into
11 (interrupted by a brief return to New York in the early
1970s to work for Richard Meier), and he started his first
practice there.
His decision to return to his home state
in 1981 was based on a desire to live and work there, not
a retreat from the competition and rigors of New York or London.
In fact, Harmon’s career disproves the conventional wisdom
that challenging commissions and enlightened clients exist
only in sophisticated metropolitan centers.
It’s not often practical to build
what one designs, but the occasional foray into the construction
process has given Harmon a trust in wholesome materials and
confidence that he can use them to make elegant spaces. The
result is a vernacular modernism as slyly sophisticated as
any found in New York or London.
A team from Harmon’s
office designed and built
this 1,188-square-foot sculpture studio over the period of
a year. The structure is constructed of built-up frames of
microlaminated wood with a 2-by-6-inch tongue-and-groove roof
deck. The exterior is clad in galvanized metal. An overhead
crane rail runs from outside down the center of the studio,
allowing the artist to maneuver the one-ton logs from which
he chisels large works. Polycarbonate glazing diffuses the
northern light and creates a softly lit environment for sculpting.
The North Carolina Farm
Bureau called upon Harmon
to design a 70,000 sq.-ft. addition, including offices and
a new boardroom. The flexible layout he designed allows each
employee to have both privacy and a window overlooking a wooded
creek valley. An indirect lighting system and a sunscreen
keep glare out of the workstations.
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