Design

We work with a variety of houses – from the modern and contemporary to the historic and traditional. While there are timeless qualities in good residential design, we think that homebuilding is a constantly evolving art and design should respond to how we live in today’s world, incorporate new technologies and materials where appropriate, and address the challenges related to the environment, energy, and resource use. Some of our design considerations include:

Site Connection. How the interior of a house connects to the surrounding landscape with views, natural light, and direct access to habitable outdoor transition spaces helps connect us to the larger natural world and to the dynamic nature of the environment in which we dwell, such as changes in weather, the seasons, life on the street, the passage of time.

Efficiently-Designed Space. As architect Sara Susanka has illustrated in her “Not So Big House” series, efficiently-designed smaller homes may meet a household’s needs better than adding larger square footage, while being more cost- and resource-efficient. We consider the importance of the quality of space, pay attention to the importance of scale, and try to make the best use of existing space when we consider adding more.

Energy and Resource Conservation. Whether the motivation is concern for the impact of rising energy costs on the household budget, concern for global climate and natural resources, or some combination, building or renovating a house is a great opportunity to enhance energy- and water-efficiency, and to consider incorporating renewable energy technologies. We will work with you to set appropriate goals, sort through strategy, technology and product options, and make appropriate choices for your house. Read more about Energy and Resource Conservation.

Healthy Indoor Environments. As we make houses tighter and more energy-efficient, it becomes even more important to pay attention to indoor air-quality, providing adequate ventilation, while minimizing the use of building materials that release toxic compounds into the home environment.