Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ronnie Gor. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Ronnie, thanks for joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
Our company name, amorphous, represents our philosophy that a design problem should be approached “without a clearly defined shape or form”. The design originates from listening to my clients unique values, beliefs, heritage and experiences, the site, immediate surrounding, context and the environment. A story emerges when these things are pieced together.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
As the founder of Amorphous Studio, my focus is on creating spaces that are not just beautiful but also functional and sustainable. My journey began with a Bachelor’s in architecture from an highly regarded institution in India, CEPT University that focuses on understanding, designing, planning, constructing and managing human habitats. It was founded by the renowned Pritzker prize winning architect Balkrishna Doshi. From there, I worked with architectural firms in Connecticut and Los Angeles, where I developed my design philosophy.
Over time, I found myself drawn to construction sites, which led me to become a licensed general contractor in California. This hands-on experience allows me to blend architectural design with the practical side of construction, bringing a well-rounded perspective to every project.
What really sets Amorphous Studio apart is our collaborative approach. Due to the design and build approach that I can offer to my clients the process for creating a dream home becomes seamless. I also love working with other professionals such as architects, interior designers and construction firms to bring their ideas to life, adding the finishing touches that give each project its unique character. At Amorphous Studio, our goal is to create timeless, sustainable spaces that truly reflect the values and dreams of our clients and the end users.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Building My Own Home: The Start of My Practice & Lessons Learned
It started with a young family with two little kids, in a foreign land, seeking the perfect place to put down roots. Doing that in a way that fit the mindset of an architect and an engineer felt like an astronomical task. We were unhappy with the choices and the prices of houses we could find around, so what started as a dream, soon turned into my worst nightmare.
We decided that we will build our own house, with almost no construction experience and little understanding of the costs involved. Early on, we realized that to make this a reality, we would really have to be involved in every little detail. And there were a lot of details – from figuring out how to design, build, and procure materials and labor, to supervising the labor, dealing with city inspections all the while staying under budget.
All of this ended up on my plate, while my husband toiled at his full time job. On top of this project of a lifetime, I juggled the tasks of managing a work site, raising a family with two young boys (7 and 4 years old), with no family or help available to me. But the immense joy of making something from nothing became our obsession.
We bought an old single story ranch style LA home with plumbing and foundation issues, disconnected from the pool, front and rear yards and the streets. We lived in it for a couple of years while our boys were 5 and 2, as I designed the project and got the permits to begin construction. Finally, we moved out to make our dream a reality.
Contextually, I knew I wanted to take advantage of the warm and sunny weather by creating openings in the walls, which makes one feel in sync with nature and the surrounding landscape. The cedar tree in the front yard, with its towering presence of 20 feet, almost made its way into the house in the form of a front courtyard. With a lily pond in the courtyard and the view of the tree through the courtyard, cooking suddenly became a very enjoyable task. A generous kitchen island, complete with a view of the front yard with its towering tree, and the backyard with its gigantic pool, finally felt like all pieces came together and belonged to each other. Each day and night, with the passing of different seasons, we are showered with nature’s constantly changing colors and moods, thanks to the strategically placed glass doors and windows in the main living and dining space.
Connection to nature is visually and physically present in every bedroom. I used glass as a main envelope of the space, to experience the play of light and shadow in the main part of the house, where it made the most sense. To counter that, I decided to clad rest of the spaces in wood in some cases, and in metal skin in others – all to achieve a well-balanced play of forms. Nature was my teacher and muse as I made these design decisions. The ease with which you can step outdoors and return back indoors encourages us to participate in the environment and to be more mindful of nature and its inhabitants. The landscape around the home was also designed to fit in with the existing footprint of the house, the tree, the pool, satisfying the urge to create a thriving habitat for bees and insects.
As I walk through the home I built and made my own, putting all of my expertise, inspiration, skills and love into it, I do feel I did the right thing by taking it on. I was my own general contractor, and built my own house just the way I dreamed it. There are so many beautiful details, thoughtful elements and design aspects that I have managed to achieve because I was my own general contractor. The satisfaction and the sense of achievement after completing something like this is just irreplaceable! It feels especially rewarding as I think about the tough days, when I felt completely helpless, exhausted and lost. I am proud to call this place our home, and I am proud of everything I have put into making this space one of a kind – the perfect place for us to put down roots.
This house is my story – a woman in construction, a mother of two young boys, an architect, an immigrant, and just another human creating something they love. I cannot wait to see what this house will hold in the future. And I look forward to creating more spaces that are going to be well-loved, lived in and will connect its humans with nature and each other.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Reflections on Being an Entrepreneur
The journey of being an entrepreneur can be overwhelming but at the same time, it can be the most rewarding part of one’s life. I started my business in 2012 when I built my house. At the time, it hadn’t crossed my mind that one day I would have my own design and build practice, but we never can predict where life takes us. And here I am, over 10 years later, reflecting on this beautiful journey with its highs and lows, and still saving all the willpower to stand tall and withstand whatever may come.
The Good
The joy of waking up every morning and planning my day around ongoing projects from the conceptual to permitting phase, making site visits to construction projects, visiting various product showrooms for inspiration and sourcing, writing contracts, making bids, keeping up with my clients, hunting for new projects, marketing, networking, bookkeeping, and the list goes on and on. The most exciting part is learning and attending various webinars and continuing my education at my own pace. Learning is crucial to me because I want to be challenged and be in the know. It is so satisfying when a client reaches out to say that I was able to transform their dreams into reality. The timeline of our design and build process can vary; sometimes it takes six months, other times six years. Ultimately, developing our relationships into caring friendships and communicating with clients is crucial to me and brings me joy when they appreciate it.
The Bad
Communication is key in any relationship. When communication is not transparent, trust can break down and setbacks can occur. Such events can, naturally, affect the tone of any relationship. Though it is rare, this is especially difficult when it has happened with clients. Sometimes, mistakes happen, or there are delays and miscommunications. It can be hard to navigate our own emotions when these things occur, let alone the emotions of our collaborators! As a result, I do my best to be mindful in my interactions and communicate with honesty, respect, and empathy.
The Hope
I have come to realize that as a human being, I have the power to forgive and to mend if something is broken. I can control my emotions in the face of someone else’s negativity and turn it into hope for a better world. I have the mindset to show grace in the face of another person’s weak moments (we all have them) and be there to support them. I have the power to clean up the mess within me and turn my energy into creating beautiful, breathtaking spaces for my clients and for future generations. I can focus on what I love to do and turn it into something remarkable.
On a last note, as a woman in today’s workforce, every experience reinforces the importance of willpower and strength in pursuing and maintaining success in my work. By repeatedly seeking and holding the light, I hope to inspire other women in the workforce. We all deserve a respectful and fulfilling life.
Clark’s Strategic Partnership Program (SPP) – An Experiential Learning
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amorphousstudio.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amorphous_studio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amo.studyo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amorphousstudio/
- Twitter: https://x.com/StudioAmorphous
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@amorphousstudio/about
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/amorphous_studio/
Image Credits
Photo credits – Tim Hirschmann (for one project). Other pics I have their permission to not disclose their names and [email protected]