Tom Wynn’s residential architectural journey began in 1994 with an internship at RWA Architects in Cincinnati. He then moved to Chicago, where he worked under Thomas Beeby, learning classical and traditional principles and details. After gaining experience with Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker, fusing traditional details with a tailored, transitional design approach, Tom established his own practice. During this time, he coincidentally met Wade Weissmann, and though their paths didn’t cross again for several years, in the summer of 2015, Tom reconnected with Wade and made the decision to relocate to Milwaukee to collaborate on potential projects together. Now the Studio Director of the Wade Weissmann Architecture team, Tom is proud to show off the culmination of his architectural journey in today’s Designer Friday.
As the sun gently sets, the brilliance of this architectural marvel comes to life. The design embraces a French Norman style, facilitating both grand gatherings and comfort for empty nesters.
Andrew Joseph: What was your first job?
Tom Wynn: At 17 I worked in the kitchen at a restaurant called Bill Knapp’s. My grandfather used to like to go there on his birthday because you’d get a percentage discount based on your age. I was always interested in cooking.
AJ: Are you a good cook? What’s your specialty?
TW: I’m an excellent cook. I’ve really been into duck confit recently. My ideal weekend includes traveling somewhere to get out of the context of daily life and witness how other people live and enjoy great food.
They used to have duck confit in Milwaukee at a restaurant called Lake Park Bistro, so I started to make it during the lockdown because I wanted to either go to Lake Park Bistro or Paris and those weren’t options. It’s actually easy to make. It sits overnight to cure and cooks at a low temp between two–four hours. It keeps warm so it’s great for entertaining.
Natural light and indoor/outdoor living were prioritized in the design, fostering a seamless connection with nature. The thoughtfully crafted layout encourages both interaction and privacy.
AJ: What’s a guilty pleasure you have?
TW: Haribo gummy bears.
AJ: Do you get your eight hours a night? – What is your schedule like?
TW: 7 ½ hours is what my body seems to like the most. I don’t sleep with an alarm clock unless I have an early morning flight to catch. I wake up with the sunrise. It’s harder in the summertime because the sun actually comes in through the windows and smacks you right in the face. I also have a psychological aversion to napping because I have intense FOMO, so I’m not big on naps.
Meditating helps; I try to do it every morning or night. It’s a very internal thing. A form of passive meditation I love is walking through the neighborhood and solving problems; I find it very productive to work on a project passively.
I also find cold showers in the morning very beneficial. It changes the dynamic of your day when the hardest thing you do all day is the first thing you do that day.
For both the interior and exterior of the home, materials traditionally considered to be appropriate for a northern climate were used such as brick, slate, copper, timber and stone.
AJ: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
TW: A modern/rustic cabin, more specifically a Miesian cabin in the foothills of the Rockies, would be my dream project. This appeals to me because of the beauty of the setting and the rigor and order of the plan. I appreciate how the relationships of all the elements to one another are very rigorously and thoroughly well-resolved, seamlessly free flowing, yet somewhat mechanistic in fashion, contrasted by the beauty of the natural materials, as opposed to steel and concrete.
AJ: Are you a pet person? Why either way? Dogs or cats?
TW: Dogs all the way. I’ve had cats. In architecture school I had two cats who were sisters named Plaster and Lath. We lived at the University of Cincinnati. One of my roommates made a connection with a guy in real estate and we paid $67/month each in rent on a house that was going to be torn down; so, naturally, we used it to test our architectural projects. We took out a staircase and rebuilt it using the floor joists. Our neighbor worked for the coroner’s office, and we got toe tags from him, and one of the best parties we ever had was passing out toe tags to all our party guests; it turns out to be a great icebreaker.
About the Designer | Tom Wynn, Studio Director at Wade Weissmann Architecture (WWA), has developed a passion for inspiring young architects in the classical tradition and extolling the virtues of fine craftsmanship. Wynn is a strong believer in empowering young designers to discover their professional interests and identify their strengths so that they may confidently evolve into serious architects.
In his seven-year tenure with WWA, Wynn has enjoyed serving as a mentor, helping staff members develop into accomplished architects who design classic architecture beautifully and properly. Wynn says, “If you are just building a beautiful structure that is not functional, then you failed your client. You have to understand your audience and be able to present a concept that is clear and on point with your clients’ original expectations.” In practice, he values a balance between beautiful design and practical merit; all of which he shares with the firm’s young architects.
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