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Imagine enjoying your day, not just getting through it. That’s the basis of my 5 Senses Design™ — savoring each moment in your home. When you gaze at a view that inspires you or breathe in a certain smell, doing the dishes becomes less of a chore and more an act of self-care. Here’s how …

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” -Benjamin Franklin Franklin was referencing fire protection, though his philosophy relates to many fields, including architecture. In his time, the community believed people were lucky to get out alive … and inevitably, the building burned down. “This is just what happens,” I imagine they repeated. …

Architects are trying to save the world — or so goes the theory of one of my professors in school. The underlying assumption is that architects are in essence problem solvers. I find it fascinating that many famous “rock star architects,” once established, channel their energies into helping the world at large. If I had …

I’ve noticed the phrase “self care is health care” on the news. Here’s my take on it as an architect … Disconnecting from devices and enjoying nature is a form of self care. Clients who benefit from my 5 Senses Design™ embrace home life outside the Internet; likewise, my biophilic designs encourage interaction between nature …

I’d like to share with you one of my favorite buildings, a museum in Italy with a rich history. Its materials perfectly marry the old and new, and likewise inspire my designs. I draw inspiration from Carlos Scarpa, the architect who restored Castelvecchio Museum in Verona, Italy. The museum showcases juxtaposition and timelessness — where …

We like to involve the client as a team member and bring other project partners into the conversation. This tends to work and helps avoid the personality conflicts you hear of on other projects. In addition to the obvious design role, the role of the architect needs to be master communicator, coordinator, and able to …

This last December, my sons and I completed the final push to earn black belts in karate. After years of training up through the ranks we went through a specific black belt preparation which comprised 6 months. We experienced challenges that would prepare us for the ultimate black belt test … when we would demonstrate …

What early experiences have shaped your professional practice? Because we all have such experiences, I thought you’d enjoy reading about this one. When I was a kid, I felt fearless on the water. I absolutely loved sailing, but I developed a fear on land … of rattlesnakes. It seemed like a pretty normal fear to …

power of architecture. Architects strive to put their finger on it. Our perception of space is often on a conscious, even primal level. Because I see the world through 5 Senses Design, I consider how a space looks, feels, sounds, smells and tastes. I think we easily feel the volume of the space, but there’s …