Jon Gentry and Aimée O’Carroll, founders of the award-winning GO’C architecture & design studio based in the Pacific Northwest, have cultivated a distinctive practice recognized for its blend of rational design and artistic expression. Founded in the Pacific Northwest, their studio thrives in the challenges and opportunities of site-specific work across residential, commercial, and arts-focused civic spaces. Their mission is dedicated to producing expressive and contextual architecture that enriches its place.
Founding Partner Jon Gentry grew up in North Carolina, developing an eye for utilitarian structures and an impulse to challenge norms. Founding Partner Aimée O’Carroll grew up in the heart of London and comes from a family of architects that reaches back three generations. Together, their studio is driven by practicality and imagination, where thoughtful analysis meets a spirit of exploration. Their process is as rigorous as it is daring; it takes both knowledge and curiosity to turn a brave idea into something real. The ambition behind everything they create is to push the limits of what’s possible—in service to clients, communities, cultures, and landscapes.
This dedication to innovative and responsive design has garnered GO’C several prestigious awards, including the AIA Seattle Honor Award, AIA National Housing Award, and Residential Design (RDAA) Citation Award. These accolades celebrate their profound commitment to advancing architecture that is both socially responsible and aesthetically compelling.
What inspires you?
We are inspired by passionate people, determination, and the intense focus people bring to their pursuits. The resilience of the human spirit—the ability to push through challenges, overcome adversity, and continue striving forward—is a constant source of inspiration. We seek this every day in art, film, literature, architecture, and the people we collaborate with on our projects.
Travel is always a huge inspiration, whether across the world or into our great Pacific Northwest backyard. Separating from what you know, and being exposed to a new place always leads to some form of inspiration for us. It seems to draw out that childlike wonder and curiosity that sometimes gets lost in the rush of everyday life. The more we open ourselves to the world around us, the more we can bring elements back to our projects, fueling our creativity and driving our ongoing development.
What inspired you to become an architect?
Aimée
Growing up in a family of architects I was very exposed to the world of architecture, whether it was visiting construction sites on weekends or visiting museums and monuments on holidays, architecture was an ever present part of life. ‘Are you going to be an architect too’ was a frequently asked question which I tended to avoid! Instead I was much more engaged with the art world, painting, drawing, sculpture than the built form—at the time I didn’t realise how this too could tie into design and architecture. Inspiration was all around me whether I knew it at the time or not, and little by little I began to understand that it was something I wanted to explore and quickly found my own passion for it once I began studying architecture.
Jon
I began to uncover more creative outlets in my teens—drawing, painting, exploring music, and building things around our house. Growing up on a densely wooded property in rural North Carolina, my brother and I were always carving trails, constructing jumps, forts, and treehouses. We were always project-driven, led by a dad who loved to work. While I didn’t grow up knowing any architects, or even meeting one, I recall an early experience that may have sparked my interest. My dad invited the school art teacher over to help site and position a new barn we were building. That may have been my earliest glimpse into the role of an architect—blending creativity with practical problem-solving. In high school, I designed and built a raised garden in a courtyard for a senior living home as my Eagle Scout project. Looking back, choosing the path to study architecture at the age of 17 seems like a natural choice when you start connecting some dots, but it was likely more fortuitous than anything. What drew me in was the creative process—designing, building, and seeing the tangible impact that process can have on others.
How would you describe your design philosophy?
Our design philosophy is rooted in a deep commitment to listening, learning, and engaging with each project’s unique landscape, history, and cultural context. We begin by understanding our clients’ values and vision, allowing the project’s narrative to emerge through thoughtful study and collaboration. Design is a dialogue—shaped by site exploration, refined through discussions with our clients, and enriched by the expertise of our collaborators and craftspeople. With a sensitivity to place and purpose, we approach each project with intentionality, balancing our responsibilities with a commitment to enduring, meaningful architecture. We strive for designs that stand the test of time—rooted in simplicity, elegant proportions, and an honest expression of materials. Our process is iterative and collective, ensuring that each decision reflects our values and contributes to a built environment that is both responsible and lasting.
What is your favorite project?
Peter Zumthor’s Thermal Baths in Vals. We are drawn to places of retreat, contemplation, and sensory experience—hot springs and saunas are often at the top of our list when we travel. Over the years, we’ve returned to this building multiple times, and it continues to inspire us with its use of materiality, light, and atmosphere.
What is your favorite architectural detail?
The details that are unplanned—those delightful surprises that emerge during construction or in the way a space is experienced over time. It might be how light passing through a skylight refracts into a rainbow and is cast on a door, the unexpected texture of aggregate revealed in a dry concrete mix, or a craftsperson making a subtle, thoughtful adjustment during installation. As architects, we often strive for control, ensuring projects are successful while managing risk. But if we eliminate all opportunities for chance and happenstance, materials—and entire spaces—can become sterile and predictable. A deep beauty often lies in these spontaneous moments of discovery, and we embrace them in our work and in life.
Do you have a favorite material?
Natural light is our guide. A concept that continues to stand out on every project, be it a house or winery or arts-focused public space, is that we should continue to follow the natural light and how that can inform and influence the design of our spaces. The connection of our projects to their sites is often the expression of the architecture and how it responds to natural light. We find that once you begin to explore spaces in relation to light, there are endless possibilities for making informed design decisions.
What is your process for starting a new project?
We seek to uncover what is unique and essential—whether it’s the natural wildness of a site, the personal histories and aspirations of our clients, or the intangible qualities that make this particular project unlike any other. There is meaning to be found in this discovery, and often, in that process, a shared vision emerges—one that becomes the driving force behind the work.
From there, we navigate constraints, challenges, and complexities that come with realizing any ambitious idea. The clarity of that initial vision, however, keeps us moving forward, ensuring that what we ultimately build remains true to the spirit of those early moments of insight.
How do you balance function and creativity in your designs?
For us, function and creativity are deeply intertwined—rather than opposing forces, they inform and enhance one another. We believe that some of the most beautiful spaces and objects emerge from a clarity of purpose, where every element serves an essential role. The elimination of the extraneous sharpens the experience of a space, allowing fundamental qualities—natural light filtering through a carefully placed window, the warmth of a radiant concrete floor, the satisfying weight of a well-crafted door handle—to be expressed in their purest form.
Our creative process often moves into the subtractive realm, refining an idea down to its essence. While bold concepts and visions may drive the initial design, they are shaped and tempered by function. If a space doesn’t work—if it feels awkward, frustrating, or uncomfortable—then its beauty is diminished. Function, in this sense, becomes a rigorous check, ensuring that the final design not only inspires but also enhances the lived experience. It’s a continuous dialogue between idea and utility, where each informs and strengthens the other.
How does the environment influence your work?
Environment and climate are such important and influential factors in our work. Washington state alone has such dramatically diverse landscapes—from the flat, dry desert-like climate in the east to the mountainous, temperate rain forest in the west. Each project is thoughtfully designed with their environment in mind. Climate, weather patterns, view corridors, topography, and soil conditions—these natural elements inevitably help shape our projects.
We take a responsible approach to natural resources, striving for sustainability and designs that contribute positively to their environment. While advancing technology continues to transform how we build, we balance innovation with our core values: a democratic approach to decision-making, a tactile nature to studying sites and materials, a sense of kinship with our teams, and a daring practice. By embracing these principles, we aim to create projects that are both forward-thinking and deeply connected to their natural context.
How do you collaborate with clients to achieve their vision?
For us, collaboration is about listening to what’s offered and responding thoughtfully, rather than judging the idea. In our design process, we are listening to and learning from our clients, the site, and the sustainable opportunities that we can uncover. This encourages discussion and a democratic approach to problem-solving that helps the best ideas rise to the top. We strive to create unique projects that are expressive responses to their site conditions, programmatic needs, and the aspirations of our clients.
What inspired the Sound House?
Sound House was inspired by both the family it was built for and the dramatic topography of its site. Designed for a newly blended family with six children, the home needed to provide ample space for gathering, connection, and shared experiences. Expansive living areas, multiple terraces, and rooftop decks create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, ensuring every family member has a place to come together or retreat. The home’s name—Sound House—reflects not only its stunning Puget Sound views but also the ever-present music and lively energy of the six children who call it home.
The site’s steep slope posed both structural challenges and design opportunities. The house is strategically placed on an existing plateau at the top of the site, allowing for uninterrupted views in nearly every direction. A series of terraced gardens and pathways were designed to form inviting outdoor spaces, including a dining terrace and a pool terrace nestled into the hillside. Maximizing the home’s 360-degree views was a key design driver, ensuring that the stunning views remain an ever-present backdrop to daily life.
How did materiality shape the design and sustainability of The Rambler?
The Rambler’s material palette was carefully chosen to emphasize durability, texture, and a deep connection to its site. The concrete base and full-height masonry walls establish a sense of visual mass and permanence, with the textured masonry and deeply raked mortar joints providing a striking contrast to the smooth concrete surfaces and interior lime-painted walls.
Sustainability and longevity were key considerations from the outset. Locally sourced, low-maintenance materials that improve with age were prioritized. Douglas Fir trees cleared from the site were milled and dried in situ during construction, then used for the entire ceiling finish inside and out, as kitchen shelves, and for a custom coffee table. Similarly, site-milled cedar was crafted into the entry door, benches, and east privacy fence, reinforcing the home’s connection to its place. From the beginning, the design embraced a seamless indoor-outdoor relationship. Brick screen walls extend into the landscape, forming semi-enclosed exterior rooms that filter light and frame views at the east and west ends. The surrounding greenery is welcomed right up to the perimeter walls—and in the case of the entry garden, into the very heart of the home—blurring the line between architecture and nature.
What advice would you give to young architects?
Be bold in your endeavors, commit fully to the process, and stay nimble. Architecture is a journey of exploration—ideas and design options are always evolving, shaped by listening, learning, and refining. Embrace change as part of the creative process. The strongest designs emerge when you cultivate a shared vision, one that unites clients, collaborators, and builders. If that vision is clear and compelling, it will endure the challenges that come your way.
