HOW WE WORK

Building a new house can be an overwhelming experience. Our goal is to make the process enjoyable and help you move confidently from dream to reality.

In general, our projects follow four phases: scope of work and programming, design, construction documentation, and construction administration/guidance.

Insight and understanding

In the first phase we focus on gathering information and building our understanding of what you’re seeking to achieve. Of course we want to learn about your basic requirements, including overall building size, programming (things like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and essential features), and general budget. But we also want to know how you like to live in your house, and how you may use it in the future. 

We’ll combine these insights with more building-specific considerations, especially as they relate to your property. This includes environmental factors like sun, wind, drainage, slope, views, proximity to nearby homes, and future development. At this point we also want to have a broad understanding of municipal zoning and community design requirements.

Bringing your vision to life

In the next phase, we’ll distill all this input into the initial round of our design work. This is the point at which you’ll begin to see overall forms for different design options and basic floor plans. We’ll also be communicating with the builder or construction company to get input on construction options and ensure our designs remain within the construction budget. 

Depending on the situation, we will present one to three options in this phase, with the goal of moving forward with one of them. Limiting options serves two purposes: First, by placing restrictions on the number of possible solutions, it focuses our creative output. Second, it prevents clients from feeling too overwhelmed. With a firm direction agreed upon, we’ll continue to refine the exterior design and floor plan. And at this point we’ll begin thinking more seriously about details and finish options. 

Preparing for construction

In the third phase, we turn our design into a thorough set of construction documents that will be used by all contractors during construction. During this time we’ll coordinate with structural and civil engineers, municipal building departments, and mechanical contractors. In addition to ensuring the structure meets all legal and code requirements, these foundational efforts help the building process proceed as smoothly and efficiently as possible. 

Once we have an approved set of construction documents, the home is ready to build. While under construction, we’ll communicate with the general contractor and subcontractors to answer questions or make adjustments as needed. 

A note about aesthetics and design philosophy

Potential clients should understand that architects (or architectural firms) tend to develop a particular style or look in their work. Finding an architect that shares your aesthetic sensibilities is one of the keys to a successful relationship. 

Our style is decidedly modern. We’re specifically interested in refining and simplifying classic forms or creating completely modern forms that pay careful attention to proportion, balance, and, as always, livability. Our work is typically rooted in both the region’s overall environment and in historical context. If an area has a strong architectural tradition, our design work will likely reflect that tradition, even if it has been dramatically evolved to reflect a more contemporary context.

Design also includes a building’s materials and systems. We strive to minimize the environmental impact of the materials we use and reduce energy consumption as much as is feasibly possible. We’re especially interested in developing highly efficient, low-energy homes and would be happy to speak with you more in-depth on this subject. 

HOW WE CREATE VALUE

The most obvious reason to hire an architect is because you want something that specifically addresses your needs and desires, something that reflects you. Achieving this is worth a lot, as you’ll likely be spending a great deal of time in your house (especially if you or a family member will be working from home). 

But we believe we add value in ways that aren't as immediately obvious. For starters, we pride ourselves on creating very livable spaces, with floor plans that make efficient use of space yet flow smoothly and just feel good to be in. Feeling comfortable in your home affects your energy level, your sleep, and your happiness. 

Many of the design choices we make are often quite subtle. These are things that create experiences within the house that “just feel right,” even if many people can’t necessarily articulate what they are. They’re details that, when combined, create a building that is just nicer than one that might at first seem very similar. 

Finally, we understand that a house is a big investment. One of our overarching goals is to help you create a something that will be valued above comparable properties when or if it comes time to sell.