Fredrick H. Zal is the principal architect of Atelier Z, an.architecture and industrial design studio, which advocates dialogue in the fine + applied arts. By striking a balance between praxis and theoros we passionately engage our work with a focus upon theoretical morphology, materiality and empathy theory. The work is driven by fundamental concepts of light, land|form, and bodily movement through investigations of their correlation to the spaces we form into our urban environments. These projects range in scale and typology from furniture to urban design, design competition management, and housing to civic institutions and retail.

AN.ARCHITECTURE is a term first coined by Gordon Matta-Clark during his entropic studies with Michael Heizer around New York City's South Houston District of the 1970's. The term and its associated implications have recently been revived by Lebbeus Woods of the Research Institute for Experimental Architecture. It’s gestalt centers upon the kinematic nature of space, a frozen moment in time; during which passionate chaos may be quantified even if not qualified (further readings: Kurt Schwitters, Tadashi Kawamata, Arnold Schoenberg, etc.)

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN was first advocated by Iakov Chernikhov of the Russian Constructivist movement in the 1920's. Over the years, such theorists as Heinrich Wolfflin, Le Corbusier, Martin Heidegger and Weslem Jones have been strong proponents to the assemblage nature of their composition. It is through exacting study of formal relationships, that one may regain an intuition for empathic space and harmonious form.