About Us

Established in 1984, Christ & Associates Architects & Planners is located in WaterColor, Florida near the beach side towns of Grayton Beach, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and Aly’s Beach that dot the Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida.

Thomas Christ, Principal Architect of the firm, came from Miami in 1984 after working with Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater Zyberk at the architectural firm DPZ, helping to create the initial concepts, images, and some of the first homes in Seaside, Florida, the world renowned new urbanism community. Christ has designed over 90 homes and structures in the community, making him Seaside’s most prolific designer and winning the firm a number of design awards along the way. Thomas was awarded the coveted Seaside Prize in 2019 for his architectural contributions to the Town of Seaside.

Christ has also designed numerous homes in nearby traditional planned developments such as WaterColor, WaterSound, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach. The firm has also designed the majority of the homes in The Retreat, an exclusive neighborhood in South Walton County, as well as homes and townhomes in Sandestin and Destin. Outside of the Emerald Coast, Christ & Associates has also designed a number of residences in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Islemorada, Memphis, Miami Nashville, and New Orleans.

The firm has also designed many commercial structures, ranging from restaurants to office parks. Additionally, over the years many land developers have come to rely on the firm for its land planning services.

The firm’s work has achieved national recognition, receiving awards along with numerous appearances in national and international publications (a brief sample is listed below). Christ’s designs have been exhibited by the Smithsonian Museum, and his early work in Seaside is permanently featured at the University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture’s Seaside Research Portal, found here.

Media

TELEVISION:

HGTV America (Homes Across America)
-Fried Residence, February 2002
-Kerr Residence, November 2001
-Planz Residence, November 2001
-Renfroe Residence, December 2001

HGTV Canada (Homes Across America)
-Greer Residence, October 2001

PERIODICALS:

Arbitare (Italy)
Summer 1989

Architecture (London, England)
1987

Architectural Design
April, 1984

Architectural Record
April, 1984
January 1990

The Atlantic Monthly
March, 1988

Better Homes and Garden
Spring, 1990
Winter, 1992

Florida Home and Garden
March, 1991

House Beautiful
May, 1986
October, 1995

Smithsonian Magazine
January, 1991

Southern Accents
July, 1999
June, 2001

Veranda
December, 1999
July, 2001

BOOKS:

30A Style
Eleanor Lynn Nesmith, 2011
Design 360

Dream Homes Florida
Panache Partners, LLC (editor), 2007

Seaside
Steven Brooks, 1995
Pelican Press

Seaside: Making a Town in America
David Mahoney, 1991
Princeton Architectural Press