Meet Mason St. Peter | Architect

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mason St. Peter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mason, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
We all have to work… Unless you’re a trust-a-farian or you won the lottery or something… even then, you still have to do something I suppose. I don’t think of architecture as work anymore, it’s just a part of who I am. I take my kids and wife with me to job sites, meet clients, the permit office, tile warehouse, furniture makers studios, etc etc etc. I’m always working and I’m always living my life, doing what I need to be doing. I guess it’s more like a flow now than a balance. So how has it changed over time? For the better. … and how do I think about the balance? I don’t.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started my firm in 2014. I had already founded, funded, designed / built and operated a retail business in San Francisco, 2010 and Venice, 2012, called General Store. I only had one rule for how I wanted my firm to run: “not like them” the (them) in that motto is the people I had done business with, had worked for or with, (this doesn’t include everyone) only the ones who had been deceptive, less than honest, the ones who bent the truth, lacked integrity… I didn’t want my business to operate like that and I was shocked at how many did, especially in retail (I was naive). So I’ve always tried my best to meet and exceed the expectations of my clients. (it’s not always easy!) In architecture you become very close to the people you’re helping to reimagine how they live, to re-learn how to encounter space… it’s an emotional journey and one that not all are prepared to take but it’s what I’m here for… Is it my calling? sure! I love it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d hop in my Sprinter van and head up the coast to surf, camp, see friends, explore restaurants and shops, museums and galleries, little beach side getaways, desert spas, empty swimming pools, national parks, open spaces, mountains, rivers, the redwoods, Death Valley, all the skate parks, the beaches, coffee shops, cafes, theaters, book and magazine shops, venues to see and hear music, post war enthusiasts that focus on design, ceramics and art, architectural heritage homes, projects and job sites, and places to snowboard, quiet spaces, slowness, the night sky away from the city, floating in water and lots of listening and talking…

Some of these places are:

San Onofre State Beach
Mammoth
Bells Los Alamos
Hammer Museum
Cruise Control Cambria
The Pacific Motel in Cayucos
Timber Cove
Joshua Tree
Modern for All
The Schindler and Neutra houses in Los Angeles
Malibu Bluffs Skate Park
Long Beach Antique Market

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve always been very open to helping others, vulnerable. I love to listen, or more importantly, to hear. (Great skill for an architect BTW) However in other areas of life, this can be a blessing and a curse, in many ways… (insert all the obvious reasons here) In my education and training, I had been under the wing of many amazing instructors, professors, employers and colleagues from before I ever graduated from architecture school up until my last job but It was that last employer who was the one that really let me find myself and encouraged me to do my own projects. Phil Rossington, (Rossington Architecture), definitely deserves a ton of credit and recognition for being a great mentor and an all around stellar person. Always professional, always on point, even if he likes the Grateful Dead…

Website: https://www.masonstpeter.com

Instagram: @masonstpeter

Image Credits
Mason St. Peter