Matter is our medium and our muse. It exists in the weight of stone, the warmth of wood, the quality of light filtering through space.
Through our hands and minds, matter becomes meaning - transformed into spaces that shelter, objects that inspire, experiences that resonate.
This is who we are.
what we do
Matter is an integrated design and fabrication studio where visionary concepts become extraordinary spaces, objects, and experiences. As both designers and makers, we unlock unique possibilities that others might miss. Our strength lies in the seamless fusion of creative thinking and hands-on craftsmanship. We approach each project as a journey of discovery, working closely with our clients to solve complex challenges through thoughtful iteration and inventive solutions. Our expertise spans architecture, furniture, and experiential design, all united by our commitment to exceptional craft and sustainable practices.
What sets us apart is our holistic approach: every project benefits from our dual mastery of both design and fabrication. We see opportunities in standard materials that others overlook, transforming them in unexpected ways. Our team is immersed in both the creative and making processes, ensuring that each project receives the full depth of our expertise.
At Matter, we're not just designing the future – we're building it.
WHO WE ARE
ERIN PELLEGRINO
Founder / Principal
Erin believes design is a process of engaging with problems, opportunities, hopes and ideas. Through research and focus on methods of making in temporal and physical contexts, she works to produce inherently meaningful, generative and prospective designs – redefining the role and definition of craft in contemporary design and construction. She has been recognized with an Autodesk BuildSpace Fellowship, AIA New England Design Honor Award, a Core77 Design Award in Built Environment, two Architizer A-plus awards, a Paul M. Heffernan International Fellowship, and a nomination for the EU Mies Van der Rohe Award.
She is a registered architect in Massachusetts and New Jersey. She holds a B.Arch. from Cornell University, an M.Arch. II from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and an MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology.
CHARLIE FIRESTONE
Collaborator
Charlie is interested in engaging design at every level. He revels in the details and enjoys percolating design ideas down to material connections. He is committed to a responsible practice that considers the broad-reaching effects of design as it operates within social, economic, and environmental systems.
He is a registered architect in New York State and holds a B.Arch. from Cornell University, and an M.S. in Architecture with a focus in Public Interest Design from Auburn University’s Rural Studio.
Featured Press
Rethinking The Future Awards 2021
First Award | Private Residence (Small-Medium) (Built)
Featured Press
THE SHOP IN DWELL MAGAZINE
Before & After: A Trio of Brothers Turn Their Father's Boatbuilding Workshop Into a Family Retreat
Featured Press
THE SHOP IN AN INTERIOR MAG
Studio Matter converts a Martha’s Vineyard sailboat workshop into a craft-inspired home.
Matter is everywhere, existing in various states, often simultaneously. Matter is everything around us, in everything we think and do. Matter can be built, spoken, felt, thought and transformed. Matter is a way of acting, creating agency, considering ideas and actions affect others and the world around you. We are a team of makers, thinkers, builders, dreamers and doers… We are Matter.
