Process

My firm approaches its architectural projects and client relationships with a dedicated, hands-on zeal. My clients deal directly with me, giving them one-on-one attention, from planning and design through construction. The advantage of this intense attention to detail from the principal of the firm ensures that each client receives a successful solution that is unique to them, their needs, and their site. I see each project as an artist would, with an approach that equally emphasizes aesthetics, function, and sustainability.

Philosophy

Like an artist, I start with a conceptual, holistic approach to a project. Where is the site? How does it relate to nature? Who are the neighbors? What is the neighborhood like? What are the clients needs? What do they value? How do they live? What inspires them? By asking these and other high-level questions, we begin to develop a core concept that becomes a touchstone that is continually revisited throughout the design and construction process. With each decision along the journey, we ask, does this align with the core concept? In the end, the home or building should look and feel like a cohesive, unified whole. All of the components, elements and styles are there for a reason. The great architect Louis Sullivan famously said, “Form ever follows function.” I like to expand on this a little. I believe that form follows a concept that has been generated from deep inspiration and connection to the environment.

The best architecture combines the vision and passion of an artist with the understanding and analysis of an engineer.

Style

People often ask an architect, what’s your style? It’s a difficult question to answer. On this subject, Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “If honest seekers once mastered the inner principle, infinite variety would result.” At the beginning of any project, there should be no predetermined architectural style or approach. While I am passionate about modern architecture, I am also interested in preserving traditional homes and updating them to blend with today’s lifestyles. When looking at an older home or an empty lot, rather than begin with a style, we need to take a step back and ask, “What are the possibilities?”

Project solutions must be considered on an individual basis. The final unique design will be a result of the client’s program needs, the building site, and project inspirations (or directives) including the client’s interests, site context, relevant building codes, and environmental concerns. Although all architectural styles are respected, solutions will come from a deeper understanding of the meaning of such styles.

Sustainable solutions

To varying degrees, architects have always considered the relationship of humans and their buildings to nature. We must always pay attention to materials, the land, and how we live. From the larger perspective of the planning of an entire town or region all the way down to the selection of energy-efficient fixtures, architects and owners must build with future generations in mind. We should always seek to use resources efficiently and reduce negative impacts on health and the environment.

Services

• Architectural design of residential homes, commercial and institutional buildings
  • New construction, custom homes, renovation, remodeling, additions
• Construction documents
• 3D renderings, Sketchup models
• Consulting services for businesses
• Space planning, site selection, design review
• Real estate consultations