Studio Zung is a holistic design studio where architecture and interiors seamlessly merge, creating emotive spaces that enrich the human experience.
Our approach is immersive; a fluid union of ideas and aesthetics that combines the physical and sensuous storytelling of architecture and design.
We transform spaces into timeless investments by weaving a holistic story through highly considered details from grand architectural concepts and design-and-build homes to curated collectible furniture and thoughtfully sourced elements for your daily rituals: hand-forged door handles, heirloom-quality linens, and artisanal objects d'art.
From concept to completion, experience the ease of working with a single, dedicated team that transforms your vision into reality through seamless integration of architecture and interior design.
SERVICES
Architecture
Interiors
Hospitality
Commercial
Design & Build
Handcrafted Furniture
Bespoke Kitchens
Fine Cabinetry
Lifestyle Products
Scenography
Strategic Partnerships
Collaborations
Store Design
RECOGNITION
Architectural Digest
Architectural Digest Pro
Architizer
ArchDaily
Archinect
Architectural Record
The Architect’s Newspaper
Curbed
Cottages & Gardens
Design Milk
Dezeen
Dwell Magazine
Hamptons Cottages & Gardens
Imagicasa
Interior Design Magazine
The New York Times
Rue Magazine
The Purist
Vanity Fair
WSJ
Wallpaper Magazine
AFFILIATES
Shop Zung
shopzung.com
Atelier by Studio Zung
atelierbystudiozung.com
Z Builders
zbuildersny.com
Buckminster Fuller Foundation
buckminsterfullerpartnersfoundation.org
If our mind was a room
Tommy Zung
Founder and Principal
Tommy Zung is an architectural designer and curator with over 30 years of experience, whose career has traversed architecture, fashion, and more recently, his own eponymous architecture and design studio. His practice embodies a seamless integration of professional expertise and a holistic, mindful approach to design. This ethos is deeply rooted in his life experiences, from growing up among renowned architects to his passion for surfing, negotiating the oceans unpredictable and formidable nature, which has influenced his understanding of nature's raw power and unpredictability.
Tommy’s father, Thomas T.K. Zung, was a partner of the visionary R. Buckminster Fuller and worked alongside architectural giants like Eero Saarinen and Edward Durell Stone. This unique upbringing provided Tommy with a diverse cultural and philosophical perspective, shaping his approach to architecture as a balance between Eastern and Western influences.
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Since founding Studio Zung in 2013, Zung has continued the tradition of environmental integrity championed by his godfather, Bucky Fuller. His studio's work has earned recognition from various corners, with Architectural Digest naming it one of the "Top 10 Firms to Watch" in 2015.
Studio Zung is a multidisciplinary firm specializing in architecture, interiors, design & build, furniture design, curation, and product design. The studio's design philosophy revolves around mindful and holistic principles, focusing on sensorial experiences and sustainability. With a commitment to creating meaningful spaces, Tommy’s team brings an elevated approach to every project, whether it's architecture, interiors, or lifestyle design. Through his unique blend of skills and life experiences, Tommy continues to redefine what it means to be a designer in the modern world
Thomas T.K. Zung
FAIA | Co-Principal
Thomas T.K. Zung, president and senior partner at Buckminster Fuller, Sadao and Zung Architects, was a student of the visionary Buckminster Fuller. He is a distinguished Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), an honor recognizing architects who have made significant contributions to the profession through design excellence, architectural education, or professional advancement. Additionally, Zung serves as a Senior Fellow at Stanford University.
Before joining Bucky Fuller, Zung worked for many years as principal designer and project architect under the internationally renowned architect Edward Durell Stone. During his time with Stone, Zung contributed to notable projects such as the New Orleans International Trade Mart, the Master Plan for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, General Motors' headquarters in New York, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
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Zung established Thomas T.K. Zung Architects, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio and the following year, 1968, designed the first elongated geodesic dome in association with Buckminster Fuller Synergetics organization. Thomas T.K. Zung Architects and R. Buckminster Fuller merged to form Buckminster Fuller, Sadao and Zung Architects where they designed numerous Geodesic domes, tensegrity structures, vector equilibriums, museum exhibitions, publications, and Fuller’s last invention, ‘Hang It All’. A founding member of Buckminster Fuller Institute and SNEC, he is a Distinguished Senior Fellow to the Stanford University Libraries, and author/editor of Fuller’s Anthology for a New Millennium published under St. Martin’s Press.
Buckminster Fuller, Sadao and Zung Architects are members of The American Institute of Architects. In celebration of Zung's notable contributions to the advancement of the profession of architecture, he has been named a Fellow of The American Institute of Architects, which only 3 percent of the AIA members have this distinction.
Kupal Fontaine
Senior Architectural Professional
Kupal Fontaine received his Bachelor of Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology in 2010. Beginning his architectural journey at the age of 15, he has since built a distinguished career in the field. With over 15 years of experience at Studio Zung, Mr. Fontaine has successfully managed and completed projects with construction budgets exceeding $41 million and property values totaling more than $246 million. In his role, he directs the studio’s design-build projects and oversees all aspects of construction, from initial design through to completion.
Hugues de Blignières
Interior Design Director
Hugues de Blignières is a Parisian interior architect who has collaborated with Studio Zung since 2017. Mr. de Blignières assists with interiors under Tommy Zung. His portfolio also includes interior work with Gilles & Boissier on high-end projects such as The Baccarat Hotel in New York and the Mandarin Oriental in Marrakech. While at Joseph Dirand, he was part of the interior team for The Four Seasons at The Surf Club in Miami and Shun restaurant in New York.
Lily Sai-Ngarm
Project Manager
Lily Sai-Ngarm holds a Masters of Architecture from Cornell University, complementing her earlier studies at the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelors of Design in Architecture.
During her tenure at Cornell, Lily excelled as both a Graduate Teaching Assistant and a Research Assistant.
Lily's professional journey with Studio Zung commenced with an internship, and following the completion of her Masters degree, she transitioned to a permanent role within the team, bringing her passion for architectural innovation and design excellence to every project.
Wendel Yeou-Uei Chai
Junior Architectural Professional
Wendel Yeou-Uei Chai holds a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Cornell University, building on his foundational Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Tamkang University in Taiwan.
A registered architect in Taiwan, Mr. Chai has experience working with renowned firm Kengo Kuma in Tokyo. He has also been recognized with several design competition awards across Taiwan and China.
Margaret Milewski
Interior Designer
Maggie Milewski holds a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from the University of Florida, where she developed a strong foundation in design principles and spatial innovation. Her studies included an enriching semester in Vicenza, Italy, the birthplace of Palladian architecture, which deepened her appreciation for classical design and the art of crafting enduring spaces.
For over four and a half years, Maggie has been a valued team member at Studio Zung, where she ensures that each project is infused with thoughtful, cohesive interior elements. Her expertise in harmonizing aesthetics and functionality allows Studio Zung's projects to feature intimate, meaningful details that enhance the client experience.
Isabel Liang
Marketing and Sales Coordinator
Isabel Liang, a distinguished graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors in Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, brings her exceptional creativity and knowledge to the role of Marketing and Sales Coordinator at Studio Zung.
With a robust background in crafting and implementing visual design concepts, Isabel plays a crucial role in shaping Studio Zung’s multidisciplinary design language. In addition to her design expertise, her role at Studio Zung as a Sales Coordinator bridges the worlds of design and mindful acquisitions.
Talley Carlston
Art Director
Talley Carlston has been working with Studio Zung since 2013 and has spent the last decade in New York working for top-tier advertising agencies such as Chandelier, Baron & Baron, Laird+Partners, and Watson NY as well as other notable advertising agencies building his expertise as a multi-disciplinary designer in branding and design.
Mr. Carlston’s work as an art director for Studio Zung has been instrumental in visual storytelling and graphic language.
Hazel Arnaiz
Accounting Manager & Executive Assistant
Hazel Arnaiz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting Technology from the University of Mindanao. Currently, she plays a pivotal role as our Executive Assistant and Bookkeeper at Studio Zung. Ms. Arnaiz's unique blend of multidisciplinary skills, characterized by meticulous attention to detail in Project Administration, combined with her Accounting background, positions her as an integral member of the Studio Zung team.
Howard Collinge
Branding Director
Howard Collinge was born in Hong Kong to a Chinese mother and a British father. He was raised in Australia but has spent most of his career between London, Asia, and New York City.
His advertising and branding work has garnered numerous international awards, including thirteen Gold Lions at the Cannes Festival, as well as numerous Clio’s and One Show awards. He has created campaigns for some of the world’s leading brands, including Marriott, Conrad, Uniqlo, Levi’s, MTV, Jetblue, and Heineken. His attention-grabbing ideas have led to a “most watched” viral video as well as an award-winning branded content series for MTV.
Mindful Holistic Design
Architecture
Interiors
Hospitality
Commercial
Design and Build
Bespoke Kitchens
Fine Cabinetry
Handcrafted Furniture
Lifestyle Products
Sceneography
Collaborations
Store Design
Projects Around the World
The Surfrider Hotel. Montauk, NY. Hospitality
Maison 5th. Flatiron, NY. Residential
Atelier 54. Amagansett, NY. Residential
Maison Cranberry. Amagansett, NY. Residential
Maison Madison. NoMad, NY. Residential
Chateau Wildrye. Big Sky, MT. Residential
Maison Leonard. Tribeca, NY. Residential
Maison Wooster. Soho, NY. Residential
Bureau 19. Chelsea, NY. Commercial
Maison Dubois. Montauk, NY. Residential
Boulevard des Invalides. Paris, FR. Residential by HDB
Etoile. Paris, FR. Residential by HDB
Maison Ferndale. Montauk, NY. Residential
Atelier 96. Amagansett, NY. Residential
Chateau Dumont. Aspen, CO. Residential
Pays Basque. Pays Basque, FR. Residential by HDB
Atelier 211. Amagansett, NY. Residential
Maison Kent. Brooklyn, NY. Residential
Maison Imlay. Red Hook, NY. Residential
Maison Duane. Tribeca, NY. Residential
Highgate Hotels. Beverly Hills, CA. Hospitality
Atelier 22. Amagansett, NY. Residential
Navona. Navona, FR. Residential by HDB
Maison Surfside. Montauk, NY. Residential
Maison Crosby. Soho, NY. Residential
Atelier 216. Amagansett, NY. Residential
Arrive Wellness. Chelsea, NY. Residential
Hotel Ahipara. Ahipara, NZ. Hospitality
RVCA HQ. Costa Mesa, CA. Residential
Maison 7. East Village, NY. Residential
Mtk Beach House No.2. Montauk, NY. Residential
Crows Nest Hotel. Montauk, NY. Hospitality
Maison Meadowlark. Bridgehampton, NY. Residential
Brizo. Collaborations
Maison Koloko. Big Island, HI. Residential
V Bar at Venetian Hotel. Las Vegas, NV. Hospitality
Forthcoming
Forthcoming
Forthcoming
Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing
2023
2023
2023
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2021
2020
2020
2020
2019
2019
2018
2017
2017
2016
2016
2016
2016
2015
2013
2012
2012-14
2011
2012-23
2010
2008