Raised in the Midwest, Brent Buck grew up surrounded by acres of farmland, and his experience with buildings in an urban setting was pivotal. “Our family would often drive to Chicago for my father’s work,” Buck says. “I vividly remember those trips, watching the city rise in the distance and becoming transfixed by the skyline. That first encounter with architecture on such a scale left a lasting impression.”
Buck wasn’t sure that his passion for the structures could actually become a profession, but he eventually realized it was a viable option that aligned with making, math, and creative thought. He earned a bachelor’s and graduate degree in architecture, and during college, he met classmates who truly shared the same passion. Having equally eccentric peers was both grounding and energizing.
Brent Buck \\\ Photo: Christopher Sturman, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
For a decade, Buck apprenticed with Tod Williams and Billie Tsien. Those years were formative not only because he received training, but the pair’s mentorship also shaped how he thinks about the discipline and its possibilities.
In 2018 he founded his eponymous firm in New York, known for townhouses and loft-style apartment projects. He is now bringing his signature aesthetic to his first condominium, in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood. It’s a place that, for Buck, already has resonance.
It’s not always easy to find balance during hectic days, but Buck’s two children help him and his wife stay grounded, no matter what is happening at any given moment. “On weekends they often join us on site visits, so while the lines between work and personal life sometimes blur, they make that transition meaningful,” he adds.
Today, Brent Buck joins us for Friday Five!
Photo: Christopher Sturman, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
1. Stone Leather-Working Tool
A small stone tool with a hand-sawn leather handle. Its weight, material, and form feel remarkable in the hand. It embodies a sense of integrity and usefulness.
Photo: Christopher Sturman, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
2. Found Rock/Stone
A simple stone whose texture invites endless mental and visual wandering. It’s a reminder of how something so ordinary can spark imagination and curiosity.
Photo: Christopher Sturman, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
3. Burned Piece of Wood
Iridescent and fragile, this small piece of charred wood carries unexpected power. Its surface holds both delicacy and resilience, qualities that feel deeply moving.
Photo: Christopher Sturman, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
4. Farmer-Made Brass Equestrian Dental Tool
Said to be made by a farmer, this brass tool has a handmade quality that feels both utilitarian and elegant. Its form suggests ingenuity born from necessity, which gives it a quiet grace.
Photo: Christopher Sturman, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
5. Variations of Beach Glass
Collected over time, these fragments of glass transformed by the sea embody unpredictability. Their colors, tones, and softened textures inspire precisely because they are shaped by happenstance.
Works by Brent Buck:
Photo: Christopher Sturman, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
Curving Plaster Staircase with Reclaimed Heart Pine Flooring and Stair
The plaster staircase continues with reclaimed heart pine, introducing warmth and texture.
Photo: Christopher Sturman, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
Reclaimed Heart Pine Flooring and Danby Marble Kitchen
A kitchen where natural materials anchor. The reclaimed pine floors bring depth and character, while the Danby marble introduces clarity.
Photo: Christopher Sturman, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
Cross-Laminated Timber Entry Gates with Reclaimed Barn Beam Benches
The entry sequence pairs cross-laminated timber gates with benches made from reclaimed barn beams.
Photo: Christopher Sturman, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
Curving Apartment Access Stair
A stair designed as an architectural gesture, not just a connector. Its curve lends grace to a shared passage, turning a simple transition into a defining moment.
Photo: Darcstudio, courtesy of Brent Buck Architects
110 Boerum Place
A red brick facade recalls Cobble Hill’s historic brownstones, and the full-block condominium balances presence with intimacy, preserving the neighborhood’s human scale through detail.
