Greenwich-based artist Mark Mariani is a property developer and designer who, at the age of 21, founded his home design and landscape firm, Mark Mariani, Inc. He maintains a combined ambition and talent for designing exceptional residential structures and elite landscapes for his clients and has built a career spanning more than four decades. Mr. Mariania is known throughout most of New England for his aesthetic and artistry and imbues his designs with elements of nature.
Where did your passion for design come from?
I am, first and foremost, a champion of sustaining the natural world. I am driven by the notion that it is possible to strive for harmony between residential and commercial structures and the site on which they sit. It has always been important to me that my career embodies the visual appeal and distinct structural qualities that maintain a kinship between the structure and the surrounding environment.
My relationship with nature is the foundation for my work, and as an inventive designer, I sought out ways to integrate the natural world that inspired me into each design. I found myself straying from the conventional model and objective of other builders and architects in my design choices and objectives for building sites and home design.
What unique component of your brand sets you apart from your competition?
My design genius comes from my ability to take any property, no matter its condition, and create a finished product that is highly organic, beautiful, and functional. My home designs take into account their surroundings, offering unique alternatives to conventionally functional designs that may have been built before. My designs are meant to challenge traditional notions surrounding the relationship between a house and its environment. In my building projects, construction design includes sensory aspects to represent each season and time of day. I expand the notion of indoor/outdoor living and present new ways to live life in a space. Nature is a source of that life, less passive and more integral, beautiful and evocative.
What is the most important advice you would give someone looking to start their own property design company?
Be passionate about what you’re designing, and let that passion inform your work habits and business values. Arrive before every worker and be the last to leave. Maintain personal discipline when taking on difficult transactions and challenges. Never hesitate to be the first to try something; know and sharpen your visionary tendencies. Keep your finger on the pulse of the marketplace and continue analyzing your industry. It’s important to make lasting professional connections—it’s all about who you know that gets the job done and points you toward success. Perhaps most importantly, it is imperative that you trust your team and never back down from a challenge. Every problem is a possibility if only you look closer.
What lessons have you learned from a failure or setback in your career?
There are always challenges that occur in business. I believe in myself and my team, and when we are faced with a challenge or the prospect of failure, we are able to pivot. I have cultivated a team that can rethink strategies and rely upon a disciplined approach with determination, dedication, and competence. I am constantly seeking new and compelling solutions and envision a way through the obstacles in front of me. It is truly a team effort, and I rely on my ability to maintain the empowered, trust-based, collaborative engagement of those around me. I never back down from a challenge but instead manage setbacks with discipline, prepared for the unexpected. I am proud of the foundation of experiences, persistence, creativity, and quick thinking that help me mitigate potential failure. The prospect of failure is simply an opportunity to create opportunities for unique solutions and compelling outcomes.
What are the foundational tenets of Mark Mariani, Inc.?
I consider myself ahead of the cultural and societal movements that dictate much of an organization’s operations and culture. Within MMI, we see ourselves as a community of employees who are diverse and inclusive. I have established a highly supportive and vast safety net for employees who reside in the U.S. and remain connected to and in support of their families outside of the country.
My relationship with every employee is built to withstand the rigors of our workplace and maintain a personal component. Reciprocal loyalty and respect help inform our intense worth ethic, and we have fostered a workforce that values longevity and low turnover. Moreover, the multi-generational employment trends are unique and, together with our values and performance indicators, reflect a style of leadership that I have maintained since founding the company.
Key Takeaways
Trust yourself, no matter what. When your work is based on a solid foundation, trusting yourself is the straightest path forward.
Never become formulaic. Let your creativity move you forward and break the rules when you need to. Make your mark and have an impact.
The success of every project happens at the onset or beginning—right at the starting gate. Success begins with a vision.
The design and engineering of interior and exterior spaces are never driven solely by their aesthetic impact but by what is already present on site.
Collaboration should be organic and key to building and landscaping design. Collaboration extends to each member of the team and the client as well.
