Cristiana and Mark Pledger have always thought of architecture and beauty as inextricably connected. Their sensitive approach to design is complemented by a sense of rigor, a broad knowledge of architectural styles, and an ability to provide practical solutions. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, their commissions include residential work as well as collaborations on institutional, academic, and commercial projects. Skilled at creating a range of architecture that is both contextually understandable and relatable, their portfolio includes apartments in New York, a 1920’s historic bungalow renovation in Birmingham, mountain retreats in California and Georgia, and new residences in Birmingham and Alys Beach, Florida. Prior to establishing Pledger Architect, Cristi and Mark built their professional careers working with distinguished firms such as Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Cooper Robertson & Partners, G.P. Schafer Architects, and John Simpson & Partners. Those experiences shaped the spirit in which they practice today. As a firm, Pledger Architect merges the couple’s strengths and experiences with a team of creative individuals to create both elegant and livable designs for their clients.

WE BELIEVE THAT ARCHITECTURE AND BEAUTY ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED, AND THAT THE DISCOVERY OF THE MEANING OF WHAT WAS PROPELS US TOWARD THE NEW.

Background

CRISTIANA PLEDGER

Principal

Cristiana Pledger is an architectural designer who brings her innate creativity, clarity of vision, and fluency in art and design to their projects. Prior to establishing Pledger Architect, Cristi led project design efforts at firms such as Porphyrios Associates in London, and Robert A. M. Stern Architects and Cooper Robertson & Partners, in New York City. Raised in the Northeast, Cristi initially pursued a degree in visual art before focusing on architecture. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture where she now serves as a guest critic and has also taught a residential design studio for Samford University’s School of Interior Architecture. She has written for the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art’s journal, The Classicist, and her design work has been published in Architectural Digest and Southern Accents as well as in several architectural firm monographs. Skilled at establishing design vision, Cristi synthesizes client needs with what they find beautiful and brings logic to the complexity of the design process. Her involvement at the onset of every project also helps provide a clear and edited design direction for the Pledger Architect team.  Cristi lives in Birmingham with Mark and their twin boys and regularly participates in travel study programs, such as the Attingham Trust, to further enhance her design point of view. 

MARK PLEDGER

Principal, AIA

Mark Pledger is an architect having practiced in Rome, London, and New York. Before founding Pledger Architect and relocating to his native Birmingham, Mark led project efforts with such architectural firms as Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Hart Howerton, and G.P. Schafer Architects. Mark’s professional experiences in academic, institutional, and residential design, along with his innate interests in architecture and art, serve as the foundations for how he approaches his work. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, Mark also earned a second major in Italian, which allowed him to work as a designer and tour guide in Rome. To augment his entrepreneurial sensibility, he later participated in the Wharton Program for Working Professionals at the University of Pennsylvania. He has written for The Classicist, the academic journal of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA). His work has been published in Architectural Digest, Coastal Living, Period Home, and Country Living. Mark divides his time primarily between New York and Birmingham where he lives with Cristi and their twin boys. He is licensed in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Washington, DC, and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Review Boards (NCARB). He has served as member of the National ICAA Board of Directors since 2015.

Staff

  • Tessa Gearity, New York City
  • Peter LoGiudice, Boston
  • Mary Catherine Walter, Baltimore
  • Elizabeth Woodard, Birmingham