Dark blue textured background
Person steering a boat using a large wooden wheel, with binoculars and a book on the deck.
Abstract architectural blueprint with grid lines and geometric shapes in blue tones.

inspired by

journey

Person in a hard hat and striped shirt hanging from metal scaffolding at a construction site with trees in the background.
Silhouette of a sailboat with sails raised.

Paul’s architectural expertise and design sensibility comes from his personal hands-on experience as craftsman, builder, sailor, and his immersive education as an architect at the Cooper Union. He creates with care, conceptual clarity, thoughtfulness, in harmony with nature in tune with his clients.

A LIFE SHAPED
BY CRAFT

Paul Alter, AIA, is an architect driven by the pursuit of excellence, where timeless design meets modern sensibility. With over four decades of engagement in a wide range of architectural projects, his work honors the art of making - rooted in his own hands-on experience as a woodworker, boat builder, and constructor, all skills that have shaped his approach to design from the very beginning. Paul’s dedication to craft is not just an aesthetic choice; it’s a philosophy that places integrity , purpose, and a deep appreciation for materials at the heart of every project.

As a lifelong sailor, and owner/captain of the 47’ sloop “Signorina”, Paul has navigated the waters from Sag Harbor to Maine, the Caribbean, Greece, and Portugal.  This passion for sailing and exploration informs his design philosophy – one that values resiliency, fluidity, transformation, and harmony with the environment.

A Legacy of Design Leadership

For decades, Paul served as a Design Principal and Managing Partner at SKOLNICK Architecture + Design Partnership, where his leadership, management skills, and meticulous attention to detail were instrumental in bringing complex, visionary projects to fruition. Now, with his own practice, he continues to build on that legacy – creating enduring designs that inspire and invigorate while serving his client’s needs, resonating with history, while looking boldly to the future.

NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE MUSUEM

CEDAR ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION | SAG HARBOR, NY

Aerial view of a small island with labeled areas including limited vehicular access, a secure construction zone, vehicular gate, loading and staging areas, ramp, and barge. The island is surrounded by water with sandy and rocky terrain.
Historic lighthouse building with stone facade and small tower on a rocky shore
Architectural blueprint of a lighthouse with restoration notes, including details on lantern structure, copper roofing, and masonry work.
Aerial views of a rooftop and cellar plan with handwritten annotations. The left image is labeled "Roof/Site Plan" and shows a circular site with structural features noted, including leaning gable peaks, a strapped chimney, and a metal railing. The right image is labeled "Cellar Plan," highlighting structural details such as wall delamination. Both images contain various handwritten notes pointing to specific architectural elements. Plans are marked "Not to scale."
Four views of a stone building with a pitched roof and tower, surrounded by a railing.
Stone lighthouse on a grassy field with ocean view
House under construction surrounded by scaffolding near a shoreline, with grass and water in the foreground.
Historic stone building with arched windows and door, surrounded by a fence, against a clear blue sky.

Paul’s experience as an architect and designer…

Hand-drawn architectural sketch of a multi-story house with gray siding, large windows, and a combination of sloped roofs. The design includes a vertical glass section on the facade.
Hand-drawn landscape plan with house, pool, and plantings. Features include a pool with bluestone coping, various plantings like Japanese maple, crepe myrtle, and yew hedges, wooden fence, pool enclosure fence, gravel driveway, and mulch paths. Annot

Paul Alter Architecture is founded on the principle that great design is about people, nature, and the life inspired by the process and outcome of creative space and form making. Paul’s approach remains grounded in collaboration, client connection, site responsiveness, and a commitment to enduring quality. Every detail and gesture of design and construction tells a story unique to each project and provides an opportunity to blend old world craftsmanship with a modern vision.

Modern gray two-story house with large windows and a balcony, surrounded by trees.