Vero Beach Architect Profile
Deconstructing Peter Moor
Vero Beach Architect Peter Moor
Original Story by Elaine Ryan
Photos by Aric Attas
Peter Moor has a dark secret. Coffee is his addiction. It is his drug of choice, and he drinks it nearly all day long. His preoccupation with brewed beans, however, doesn’t compromise his unwavering standard for impeccable beauty and relentless pursuit of quality. To the contrary, perhaps his coffee addiction enhances his creative performance.
Many local residents proclaim Peter a genius in his field. He exemplifies the profile of a perfectionist, despite his extemporaneous appearance. A resident of Vero Beach since 1989, Moor shared that Florida was initially a difficult transition from both growing up in New York and living in Vermont.
“I didn’t love Vero immediately,” Moor confesses. “Florida reveals its beauty slowly. It is full of natural beauty and fabulous people, but they are like hidden gems that need to be uncovered.”
Moor met his wife, Mary, in architecture school in New York. They lived in Brooklyn as newlyweds. Their first job came when commissioned for a couple that wanted their house designed on property in Vermont. Peter and Mary went to work on the project, which inevitably grew into additional surrounding projects. They settled in Vermont until “five years of being really cold” brought them to “thaw out in Vero Beach”.
The kitchen of a John’s Island Home Designed by Veor Beach Architect Peter Moor. To see the full house tour go to our past post (that’s a mouthfull!) John’s Island Gem here
A gathering of the minds in the architectural office gathered around to discuss current projects with principal Peter Moor
A colleciton of architectural books for reference.
Maybe Moor’s affection for coffee explains his inability to sit still in our interview. He is effervescent energy, fiddling with his tools of design colored pencils and their cases. He is easily defined by combustible smiles. He professes to be nervous, yet seems content to engage in lively conversation in a reckless fashion. His charisma is enchanting. Over a cup of coffee, however, Moor did sit still long enough to tell us more about his latest project – John’s Island Gem.
“The house is new construction. It was built in 2007. The genesis of the plan beyond the number of bedrooms, baths, etc., was to provide continuous kitchen, living, dining and outdoor living spaces for entertaining and daily living. It is a unique space.”
A common thread throughout the conversation is Moor’s emphasis on taking what exists and simply expounding on it to enhance the original. “I learned in Vermont something architecture school and New York City didn’t teach me: innovation and beauty occur when you pay attention to the practical issues of shelter, construction, and environment and learn from that which has been done before with the same intentions. Innovation should come from the refinement of what is already in existence, rather than trying to force something new.
“Truly, the greenest thing we can do in design is to create buildings that are loved so they stand the test of time and are not torn down. To create a building that is efficient and one that elicits the feeling of love allows people to care for the building.”
When asked what the driving passion is behind his success, Moor takes another contemplative drag from his coffee mug before answering. “I think it is my commitment to giving it away to other people. I actually feel kind of cheap when a project is over. When it’s done, I have to hand it over to my clients. I am always there when they arrive. I feel cheap when the client moves into something intimate I have created and I am onto the next thing. The most important thing, of course, is the client is always happy.”
The Kitchen of another Peter Moor home we featured- tour the home here Modern Masterpiece.
VERO BEACH ARCHITECT PETER MOOR’S FIVE LITTLE LUXURIES
1. “The first thing I could not live without is my pelican fountain pen. I sign all of my contracts with it, I doodle with it, and I sketch with it. I have had it for ten years. The clip is in the shape of a pelican bill. It’s unique.”
2. “Secondly, I would say I couldn’t live without my black bag of colored pencils. I love the colors, ‘Peacock Green’ and ‘Cloud Blue’. I use them to bring my drawings to life.”
3. “Third? I can’t live without my hand electric pencil sharpener from Florence. Most [electric sharpeners] eat pencils, but the Italians came up with a special hand pencil sharpener that twirls. My wife, Mary, and I went to Italy last year. I am not good at making decisions for myself, probably because I make decisions for other people all day long. I am very definitive where work is concerned. My wife made all of the plans and arrangements for our trip and I found the pencil sharpener there.”
4. “My next luxury item is my courtyard. I love the courtyard at my house. Mary and I designed the house and the courtyard provides a quiet refuge apart from the rest of the world. One of the things I learned while living and working in Vermont is there is a real consensus of how things should be designed—they should be calming and comforting. I want my designs to nurture a sense of calm and comfort; I think a courtyard lends to this calming and loving feeling.”
5. “Lastly, I cannot live without my coffee maker. I need coffee of single origin and light roasted. To me, the most disappointing part of Italy was their coffee (laughing). They drink espresso—burnt beans! No wonder it is served in such small cups—it’s awful! I love light roasted coffee. I drink it all day long.”
Originally Published on Vero Home Life & Design
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