Studio
Merritt Amanti Architecture & Interiors is an award-winning design practice that aims to respond thoughtfully to the needs of every client in order to create beautiful, timeless architecture that is sustainable because it is well-built. Our work places an emphasis on detail, natural light and enhancing the relationship between the user and their surroundings. We consider a good building to be one that continues to unfold as the user moves through it, offering new delights and insights upon each step and at each visit.
A portion of profits from MA AI is donated to Natividad Medical Center’s NICU.
The Team
Merritt Amanti Hawley
Owner & Principal
Merritt holds degrees in Architecture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Columbia University. She trained extensively with Anik Pearson Architect in New York, a firm lauded for their obsessively detailed pre-war jewel-box interiors and several well-established local firms on projects that varied from low-income housing projects and community centers to luxurious seaside villas. She lives in Monterey with her husband and three boys.
Erika Fratzke Matheson
Office Assistant, Junior Designer
Erika holds a degree in Business Administration from Washington State University. She has always pursued careers adjacent to housing, first working in real estate and then followed by many years in mortgage financing. A midlife career pivot demanded a more creative role, leading to a position with Merritt Amanti Architecture & Interiors. Erika lives in Monterey with her two children.
Haley Lundquist
Project Architect
Haley studied art history at UC Berkeley and worked in various fields before receiving her Master of Architecture from the University of Texas Austin. Her approach to architecture is informed by a passion for investigating the intricate, interwoven histories embedded in material objects and historic structures. She has nurtured a particular interest in the potential of preservation and adaptive reuse. Outside of the studio, she enjoys antiquing and spending time with family.
Merritt Amanti Hawley
Education & Recognitions
Education
2010 M.S. Advanced Architectural Design, Columbia University GSAPP – New York
2002 B.Arch (cum laude) California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo
2000 CSU Firenze – Florence, Italy
Achievements
2021 AIA Monterey Bay Excellence in Design Citation Award - Monterey Family Cottage
2015 AIA Monterey Bay Excellence in Design Citation Award - Marine Ranger Stations
2009 Architecture License C-31948, State of California
2008 LEED Certification
Extracurricular
Guest Baker – Martha Stewart Show
Floral Designer – Galas, gallery openings, photo shoots, weddings
Guest Critic – Pratt Institute, California College of the Arts, UC Berkeley, Cal Poly, San Luis ObispoCommissioner (Retired) – City of Monterey Historical Preservation Commission
Secretary – AIA Monterey Bay
Member – American Institute of Architects, Julia Morgan Alliance
Member – The Board
