At AKJ Architects, our team understands that residential architecture and design are much more than simply creating a functional space to live in. We believe that your house can be transformed into a home that is unique. As architects and designers, we approach projects by listening, creating, and collaborating in an effort to truly understand you and your personal needs. We believe that your home is a reflection of you and your lifestyle. We are professionals who will provide you with excellent service, quality documentation, and guidance in navigating the complex process of design and construction.
LISTENING
Our relationship will begin with a conversation where you share your ideas, inspirations, and goals. And, then we will ask you some questions like: How do you live? Tell me more about your family? What do you enjoy about your current home? What do you dislike about your current home? How do you use the spaces in your home? How does your current home make you feel? What are your hobbies? What is your favorite period of art? Do you like to entertain? And then we will listen to you describe how you would like your new home to feel and what elements reinforce these feeling for you. Through listening, our goal will be to capture those characteristics in the new design.
CREATING
Creating is when we start to generate ideas that will capture the spirit or feeling you would like in the completed design. We look for opportunities to emphasize the form, material, texture, color, light, volume and proportion with respect to the site, building and interior spaces. The entire design process is creative; therefore, depending on the phase of work, the design skills employed will vary. For example, during the schematic design phase, we will draw preliminary plans showing basic room layouts, create diagrams documenting preferred views and build models illustrating overall form options– the conceptual aspects of the design. During design development, we will consult with the structural engineer to synthesize the structure with the building and we will work on the interior space plans to review how building systems and furniture arrangements function with the design. And as we coordinate all the design ideas during the Construction Documentation phase, materials for each surface in each room will be defined. Now, does this process cease during construction? No, it just gets one step closer to reality because you will select the actual materials, textures and colors of finishes that will be used throughout your home.
COLLABORATING
Throughout the project, we will openly work with you to strengthen the overall design idea by reviewing potential options and listening to your responses. This is your home and projects end when our clients feel that the completed design is a true reflection of their unique personality.
