Author: Jakeb Novak

We are excited to share that Meridian House has received a national Honor Award for Custom Urban House in the 2026 Residential Design Architecture Awards, selected as one of only seven out of more than 500 entries. A special thank you to our partners at Lucas Interior and Merritt Chase for their beautiful work bringing … Continued

Forbes has recognized Specht Novak as one of the top 200 residential architects in the country. Editor Richard Olsen notes, “The firm’s long, lean, cubist compositions are woven into the landscape, with walls that extend from interior to exterior, integrating terraces and even pools in their embrace. Specht Novak eschews flashing finishes for a minimal … Continued

We are honored to have the Meridian House featured in Architectural Digest. This Indianapolis residence bridges the gap between a world-class art gallery and a private home. Our collaboration with Lucas Interior demonstrates how minimalist volumes can still feel deeply personal. Click here to see the full article. ­­ Photo: Douglas Friedman

Specht Novak’s innovative Stealth House has been named one of the year’s most significant American architectural achievements in Dezeen’s 2025 review. Located in Austin, Texas, this accessory dwelling unit (ADU) challenges traditional residential design with its windowless, Corten-steel-clad exterior that prioritizes total privacy and passive energy efficiency. By centering the home’s light and ventilation around … Continued

We’re proud to share that Specht Novak has once again been named one of the “100 Best Architecture and Design Firms in the United States” by Architizer. This continued recognition underscores our commitment to innovative design, rigorous attention to detail, and a deeply collaborative approach to architecture. To view the full list, you can visit … Continued

We are pleased to announce that Casa Annunziata has received a 2024 BLT Built Design Award in the “Small Houses” category. The minimalist 2,000 square foot single-story pavilion features a thin floating roof that cantilevers 15 feet from the perimeter walls – an extreme departure from the owners’ previous 18th century farm house. Read more … Continued

The Stealth House is a compact, innovative accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that reimagines urban living. Situated on a formerly underutilized backyard lot in a dense neighborhood, the project addresses urban challenges like densification, privacy, and sustainability while serving as a test bed for experimental architectural ideas. Combining deeply personal design decisions with practical, cost-effective strategies, … Continued

Specht Novak has been acknowledged as one of “Austin’s Best Architects” by Austin Home Magazine. It is an honor to be recognized by the homeowners and industry professionals who voted on the list.  Check out the entire list here.

We’re honored to be among the 50 visionary firms selected for Case Study 2.0, a bold revival of the historic Case Study House Program focused on rebuilding communities across Los Angeles—particularly those impacted by recent wildfires. This forward-thinking initiative brings together local and global architects to create a catalog of fire-resilient, preapproved standard plans that … Continued