In a recent project, a guest who stayed at the prestigious 5-star Post Oak Hotel in Houston reached out to us after admiring the striking Morphic entry door pulls designed by Martin Pierce. These original sculptural handles, created in collaboration with Gensler Houston, were custom-designed for the hotel’s grand ballroom, meeting rooms, and boardroom doors. At an impressive 5 feet in height, the handles were sized to complement the building’s monumental architecture.
Shown here on a double door at Martin Pierce’s studio
For this new residential project, our client sought the same dramatic impact but with scale appropriate for an 8-foot tall single entry door. We reduced the Morphic handles to 4 feet in height to provide balance while maintaining their signature elegance and tactile appeal. Rather than the more variegated patina used at the hotel, the client preferred a more uniform finish. To achieve this, we applied a controlled, water-based patina to the silicon bronze handles, giving them a rich, charred appearance that will continue to evolve over time with use and exposure.
The location of the home—just steps from the ocean—also guided our material choice. To withstand the corrosive effects of salt air, we used silicon bronze, an alloy known for its durability and resistance to rust. Unlike iron-based metals, silicon bronze forms a natural protective layer when exposed to air and moisture, making it ideal for marine environments.
The Morphic collection is also available in 316 stainless steel, a marine-grade alloy with high levels of chromium and molybdenum that help prevent rust, even in coastal climates. While it contains iron, its unique composition creates a self-repairing surface layer that protects the underlying metal from corrosion.
The images below show the scaled-down Morphic bronze pulls mounted on a mock-up door, photographed at our Los Angeles studio. This project highlights Martin Pierce’s ability to adapt original sculptural designs to suit both aesthetic and environmental needs—all handcrafted in the USA.