Christiana Moss

Christiana Moss FAIA is an ecologically focused, climate-driven architect working at the intersection of the natural and built environment in her beloved desert home of Phoenix, Arizona. Her firm, Studio Ma, has been nationally and internationally recognized for its sensitive, tech-adaptive, and regeneratively inspired approach to complex projects, including embassies, campuses, nearly net zero offices, and museums. Her uniquely innovative approach sees all architecture as fundamentally part of a larger ecological system, and her work frames sustainability through the lenses of water, heat, history, and human experience. Significant projects include a student life master plan for the University of California, Berkeley; a New Embassy Compound in Praia, Cabo Verde; a regenerative research facility for Arizona State University; Scottsdale's storied Museum of the West; and multiple campus projects around the United States. From her earliest projects working with Phoenix's four-thousand-year-old water canals to her most recent work, which uses state-of-the-art technology mixed with ancient architectural principles to reduce heat and increase environmental regeneration, Moss has sought to design the built environment to bring balance, equity, and joy to the world.

Academic Research/Specialty Areas

  • Architectural design
  • Ecological practice
  • Housing
  • Sustainability
  • Ecologically regenerative architecture

Related News

Awards, Grants, and Fellowships (Selected)

  • Architect 50 – Ranked 6th
  • Architectural Record Design Vanguard Firm
  • AIA National Small Project Award 202

Publications (Selected)

  • "Monterey Design Conference," (2022)
  • "Architecture that Regenerates - New Ideas in Bioclimatic Green Building," AIA Conference on Architecture (2018),
  • "Architecture for Everyone," Taliesin West Lecture Series (2018)

Selected Work

  • The image shows the inside of a large, modern building with tall wooden beams and concrete floors. There are several levels connected by walkways, and in the center hangs a unique vertical sculpture. The ground floor features a green area with grass and plants, blending nature with the sleek architecture. People are seen throughout the space, possibly working or studying, giving the building a lively and open atmosphere.

    ASU Sustainability Research Building. image / provided

  • The image shows a modern building with a wooden exterior, featuring vertical slats that create a textured look. Vines climb up the side of the building, blending nature with the architecture. The surrounding landscape is a desert garden, filled with cacti and other drought-tolerant plants, adding to the natural aesthetic. The building's design is clean and minimalist, harmonizing with the arid environment.

    Xero Studio. image / provided

  • The image shows a group of modern, brick and slate buildings nestled within a lush, green landscape. The buildings are surrounded by tall grasses, shrubs, and trees, blending seamlessly into the natural environment. The sky is clear with a few scattered clouds, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere. The overall scene combines the built environment with nature, suggesting a focus on sustainability and harmony with the surrounding landscape.

    Princeton Lakeside. image / provided

  • A modern wood and glass building lit up at dusk. there is a concrete and gravel courtyard with sparse foliage and statues about

    Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. image / provided

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