Hey Brandon, did you always want to be an architect?
No, actually. I didn’t decide to pursue architecture until after I had finished my undergrad studies in fine arts at the UW and then went to build houses for a year with Habitat for Humanity. At that point I started to see how architecture fused a lot of my different interests and abilities and I decided to go to Wash U for graduate school. Even then it took a few semesters of school before I really started to love and understand architecture and feel good about it as a lifelong pursuit.
What type of projects do you work on?
Most of my work is residential, from new homes to remodels and additions. I also work on custom commercial and adaptive re-use projects, including cafes and breweries, tenant improvements, and youth facilities. Every project has unique challenges and opportunities; my job isn’t to design a house or building that looks creative- rather it is to be creative in delivering a project that works great while meeting the needs of my clients. The best projects result when I get to work with the great enthusiasm, ideas, and commitment our clients bring to the table.
Why should I work with an architect?
An architect serves as the owner’s representative throughout a project- from schematic design through permitting and construction, and works with all of the different tradespeople it takes to make a successful project. Architectural fees, depending on the scope and the architect’s involvement in a project, can be a significant piece of the budget, so you should be convinced that the money you spend on an architect will directly translate into the value of your project over time - both monetarily and personally. We do this by working to design your home or building specifically for you and for your site, finding synthesis between the many factors that influence a design, from the needs and desires of the client to the specific challenges and opportunities of the site. Additionally, your project will need to meet specific building codes and respond to the challenges of budget, materials, construction techniques, etc. Working with an architect offers you the tactical and logistical horsepower to not only deliver a design, but to steward your project from conception to completion.
What is the process?
Our strategy is to first prioritize and synthesize the many factors that influence a design, from the needs and desires of the client to the specific challenges and opportunities of the site, all while meeting the budget and satisfying codes, etc. The process begins by collecting and diagramming this information to find how it will influence the design. From there the project may have a very clear direction, or more likely we will look at a variety of design directions. We use a number of tools for design and analysis- drawings, models, computer animations, and so forth. We prefer to get a contractor or builder on board early in the process, to ensure that the design moves forward within the budget and towards a buildable reality. As the design starts to take shape we typically will do a preliminary cost analysis to verify that we are within the scope of the budget, and then move to develop the design to greater detail. As the architecture solidifies, we’ll prepare a set of drawings for permitting, which allows us to continue working on the construction details as the permit review process is underway. A final set of construction documents will be prepared and reviewed for pricing, and then construction begins. We ensure that an allotment of our time is secured for being involved during construction, as invariably questions arise and problems will need solutions.
What style do you typically work in?
While my work is definitely modern or contemporary in nature, I’ll reemphasize what I explained above- we approach each project uniquely and work to deliver a solution that works great for both our clients and their site; the result may be contemporary or it may be more traditional, but ultimately it is about them and their site. We approach design more from how a building works than how it looks, in how it performs rather than how it is viewed, and first solve questions of light, views, access, privacy, community, buildability, maintenance, and so forth. The synthesis and execution of all of these factors will ultimately determine the quality and performance of the building; this is why contemporary buildings look different- because they perform differently. Architecture is described as an art because it is analogous to cooking, painting, theater, music, film, and fashion- ultimately it resonates when the idea is good and the execution of that idea makes you see things differently or feel something new. You should be able to feel what your home is doing and use it as an integral part of your life. To see a selection of houses we really like, check out our Pinterest board Houses.
What are your thoughts on green and sustainable design?
This is a great question and a priority amongst architects, clients, and the public alike. The green design movement started with a focus on market-based solutions which presents “green” as something that can be applied - products or materials that we can use to green our lives. Which is fine, but that put the cart before the horse. In architecture, green and sustainable design is now an integral quality of building, allowing a building to do more with less. Buildings that work better and last longer take advantage of light and sun for passive heating and cooling, organize openings for natural cross-ventilation, utilize space efficiently so buildings can be smaller, and work within their context, contributing to their community and creating an opportunity for long-term care and investment. Once these qualities are explored and prioritized, we’ll then treat the more market-oriented aspects of green design - solar panels, water retention and collection, recycled materials, etc.- as they might work best for the house, budget, and client.
What do you love about living and working here in Bend?
Bend is a fun place to live and work because there is a real and palpable sense of communal energy, excitement, and passion for this town and our spectacular surroundings. Having grown up here, I can say that while Bend has changed a lot, it is still very much a small town, where life and work can and do happen simultaneously. This makes it fun as an architect because my clients want their homes to work harmoniously with the way they live here, and to take advantage of their place in the landscape. And because Bend is a community built on relationships, where friends become clients and clients become friends, life and work become both simultaneous and fulfilling.
Who are some of your favorite architects?
As far as the legends, I had the chance to visit several buildings by Alvar Aalto while studying in Finland, and I love the work of Louis Kahn- if you have the chance, visit the Salk Institute in San Diego or the Kimbell Museum in Ft. Worth. They are supreme examples of architecture that is oriented toward light and precisely placed within the landscape, and have stood the test of time, remaining as vital and relevant now as they were when they were built.
The more contemporary architects I respect and follow are those who work in the contextual approach described here - among them Tom Kundig here in the Northwest, Rick Joy in the Southwest, or Marlon Blackwell in the South.
That said, good architecture is all around us- I’d love to hear about your favorite spaces, buildings, or landscapes in your own home or city.