POP Architecture Establishes Northwest CT Presence

The expansion of POP Architecture from New York City into northwestern Connecticut, and extension of its portfolio from complex commercial projects and residential renovations to signature private homes and estates with a focus on client-driven design and sustainability, represents the fulfillment of several overlapping narratives.

Understanding the inspiration for POP’s most notable project currently under construction, a 2,500-square-foot Round House on 47 acres in Kent, requires looking back at foundational elements for Architect Okan Oncel and Project Director Jessica Pleasants.

They collaborate professionally as the principals of POP, and they’re also husband-and-wife with two young children, an apartment in the city, and a house in Kent.

Their journey to northwestern Connecticut begins with Jessica’s childhood. She’s the daughter of Rod Pleasants and Steve Godwin, whose businesses McIver Morgan Design and Godwin Residential Construction specialize in high-end interior design and construction. Growing up she spent time in their Washington home. 

Okan and Jessica bought their own house in Kent in the fall of 2019, roughly a year-and-a-half after forming POP in May 2018. These days they live in Kent and also maintain a city office in Union Square.

POP’s recent city projects include complete renovations to a West Village townhouse and an East Side apartment, and in northwestern Connecticut construction is progressing swiftly on the one-of-a-kind Round House that offers stunning views from its hillside perch. 

Despite its modest size the house will feel grand with its open entertaining space, 21-foot-tall ceiling, cantilevered bridge leading through the dramatic double height atrium, seamless curved glass windows, rooftop oculus, and rooftop entertaining space (to name just a few signature features).

There will also be a living green wall connecting the oculus skylight to the lower floor and terraced lawn beyond, as well as other design innovations detailed on the project page.

Other current or recent Connecticut projects include:

• An ongoing estate improvement project in Washington

• A farmhouse in Roxbury

• A farmhouse in Kent

• Renovation of a guest house on Nettleton Hollow in Washington

POP Architecture’s local business and networking affiliations include Kent Chamber of Commerce and the Litchfield Chapter of Business Networking International (BNI).

POP is a culmination of architect Okan’s two-decades-long, distinguished career in architecture, design and construction. He has held important positions with Rafael Viñoly Architects, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). 

Notably, in serving as technical designer on the SOM team for the Arthaland Century Pacific Tower in Manila, Philippines, Okan contributed the design of self-shading exteriors that was credited with providing the building “that last bit of solar performance to reach LEED platinum.”

Other high-profile design projects for Okan include a hospitality complex in Abu Dhabi; a skyscraper in Seoul, Korea; the Edward Kennedy Institute in Boston; an academic and administrative facility in California, and a research center at Penn State.

Okan, who has lectured on topics such as High Performance Design in South East Asia at the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at the City University of New York, is known for bringing to life client’s visions with sustainable site-specific designs that reflect an elevated attention to detail, disciplined technical rigor, and a hands-on approach.

As a project manager at Godwin Residential Construction, Jessica champions transparency and communication to achieve uniformly high-quality, cost-efficient results. 

POP Architecture may be reached at 212-977-6775 in New York City, at 860- 927-1041 in Kent, or by email at info@popdpc.com. The website is popdpc.com, and you can follow POP on Facebook and on Instagram at @poparchitecturedpc.