Residence: Indianapolis, IN-1990

concept: We decided to create a walkout connection toward the street and generate an enlarged landing area for the stairway to act as a transition space and funnel for sunlight and breezes.  This concept was the cornerstone for the organization.

programme:  Gary and Nancy are a professional couple without children interested in a house in the vein of Danish architecture.  They purchased a wooded lot, sloping toward the north at Geist Lake.  Upon entry into the home, the sculptural two story fireplace is the focal point and hinge to open the Living Area, Dining Area and the Kitchen to each other.  A stairway opens up to an enlarged space at mid level, the Sun Room which acts as the funnel for sunlight into the Main Level.  Upon ascending to the Upper Level, the Loft overlooks the Living and Dining Areas.  The Master Suite overlooks the woods with two additional Bedrooms facing the street.

Commercial retail (buildout): Indianapolis, IN-1993

concept: Thus, we were confronted with have three parallel corridors.  The problem became… how do we create interest and maximize function in the coffee house corridor?  The breakthrough concept was a purple serpentine wall to draw visual interest from the hotel atrium.  This wall initially had display functions, but the budget cut it to its basic form.  We used the crotch of the L in the plan to pivot floor and ceiling elements to further disrupt and harmonize the eye.

programme: An interactive and spontaneous collaborative between three people resulted in the success of 40 west coffee.  We were presented with a need by the Omni Hotel to create a coffee house to act as an overflow space for their restaurant. This space also needed to generate its own cliental from the street. The hotel was using this space for luggage storage and wanted to keep this storage capacity.

award: monumental; interior design- merit award

Commercial office (buildout): Cincinnati, OH-2000

concept: The mail center is the heart of the company’s internal communication.  This is an area for collection of mail as well as an area for idle conversation among colleagues.  A curved wall encloses the mail center and is a focal point at entry into the building.  Gentle curves and angles create a dynamic counter-play for this company’s image of energy and diversity.

programme: Create a splashy environment for reception of clients, conference areas, mail center and upper management offices for a marketing firm located in a 1900+- converted brick schoolhouse.  

AIA- interior design award- nominated

Commercial (addition/ remodel): Kokomo, IN-2000

concept: The street corner needed to be addressed but the existing building was built parallel to the street.  The addition was designed to integrate and be parallel to the street but a skewed box within a box was used to orient the entrance to the corner and create an interest in the waiting area volume.  The doctor’s exam rooms were organized into ‘pods’. Each pod was kept private by using an organizational corridor adjacent to a shared doctor’s workroom.  

programme: Create an addition to a physician’s office that is functional for four doctors and contemporary stylistically.  The existing office was built in the 1970’s on a corner lot in an office complex.  This building was designed for two separate doctors.  The current organization is for physicians to create a partnership.  The existing practice needed to be operational while the addition was being built and then the existing office was to be remodeled to create on seamless look.  The doctors wanted to have a work space that kept them accessible to the exam rooms but out of view from patients and vendors when they are between patients.

Residence: Cincinnati, OH-2005

concept: The concept is to follow the sun and stretch the wide hip roof composition east-west with spaces pushing in and out of the rectilinear boundary lines.

programme: The Farmers purchased a lot with a pre-existing home that we demolished.  It was important to have the home ADA accessible.  The Farmers are empty nesters and the secondary bedrooms became rooms for guests and for resale reasons.  We decided to place these bedrooms above the Garage, which became a carriage house that is skewed from the main home and attached with a corridor arm.  The home is organized into distinct private and public areas.  The public spaces are open in concept and have an indoor/ outdoor seamless connection with some spaces being compartmentalized due to function. 

Views of the sun rising in the morning is captured in the M. Bedroom Suite as the sun traces its path across the southern sky, it casts its rays into the Kitchen and the Screened in Porch… until it descends to the west creating sunsets that are framed by the tall western windows and shielded by the long six foot eaves.  The Patio set to the northwest extends the terrazzo Dining/ Living Room floor to the exterior as the light rain falling from the long eaves caress the interior spaces and sets the stage for storms on the horizon. 

The Curves are used to embrace and shield internal and external energies as this home sits silently with power on a rolling site.

Commercial office (addition/ remodel): West Lafayette, IN-1995

programme: Create an addition to a credit union that would update the existing building and image to its main branch. The existing office was built in the 1970`s on the main street through Purdue University.  There were two entry doors to the building. The main entry became the one closest to the parking lot.  The street oriented entry was rarely used.  The problem became to rework the street entry so that it became the main entry visible from the street and incorporate an ATM and night teller lobby.  The remainder of the building needed to be remodeled to bring this building up to date and to facilitate an orderly flow for clients and employees.

concept: How do we visually and functionally tie the two entrances together, create a substantial entry statement at the street and organize the teller stations?   Drop a stone in a quiet lake and circular ripples will occur… this became the concept for this question.  The center occurred in near the interior intersection of the two entries.  This center provided circular connections that created the street entry canopy and the teller stations.  The lobby became an open area that creates visual connection and orientation for the clients to the tellers.  The parking lot entry was strengthened visually and functionally with an adjacent elevator addition.

Residence (addition): Indianapolis, IN-1995

concept: The concept for the addition was to respect the simple truth of the existing cottage and create an addition of simple elegance.  The two needed to coexist as if they were cognizant of each other’s presence through time.  A parallel axis was created with the existing house.  This new ridge line followed… yet etched a new line in the collage of forms.  The composition of the addition was the manipulation of the existing gable/ shed roof pattern with an unusual twist of fate.

programme: After raising a family to maturity in a large home on the near north side of Indianapolis, the Guernsey’s purchased as small cottage with an additional rear lot in the Butler University community.  The idea was to evaluate the next phase of their life by consolidating their life.  The cottage was a symbol of this inner exploration and the addition was a process of the spiritual trek.  They loved to entertain and spend time with the children and grandchildren.  The existing cottage became a guest house and an office for Mrs. Guernsey.  The addition became the new heart of the house with an open Kitchen and Great Room and a new Entry with a Master Bedroom Suite on the second level. 

Residence: Indianapolis, IN-2004

concept: The concept is to nestle a French Country home into a wooded sloping lot.  

programme: The Caron’s site is adjacent to Lauren’s parent’s home.  So, there was intimate knowledge of the land and sentimental places to preserve from her childhood memories.  Jay and Lauren have two young children.  This growing family needs plenty of space.  Along with spaces needed for daily family activities and entertaining, Lauren is a photographer.  A studio with north light was required.  The studio needed a separate entrance for her clients with an area for a gallery and meetings.  

Commercial retail (buildout): Indianapolis, IN-1994

programme: Create a retail envelope that will showcase the client's colorful merchandise.  

concept: The former tenant had a loft level.  It was important that this level was seen from the mall corridor.  A scheme was devised to open the ceiling at strategic locations so the shoppers will focus their eye deep into the store and move their focus back to the entry.  Angles were used so that the merchandise could be seen from diverse vantage points.  The facade is mostly glass so that the interior and merchandise could dominate the eye.

Commercial retail (buildout): Indianapolis, IN-2004

programme: This retail clothing store was designed for the new 1920's inspired outdoor mall in Indianapolis. The solution needed to be budget driven yet feel comfortable and trendy enough for the 'New Image Contemporary Woman'.  The entry needed to be accessible yet identifiable as the store opens up to allow the merchandise to be center stage.  

concept: Create a sophisticated storefront that directs the eye and pulls it into the depths of the store.  

As Architects and Interior Designers we are committed to working with commercial builders/ developers in the Cincinnati/ Indianapolis and surrounding areas as a vital team member and design professional to enhance their already successful projects.

We seek to craft a FIT and create VALUE.  By understanding client goals, together we form a definition of project scope to build a competitive fee structure that is tailored to the specific client’s actual needs.  This produces efficiency in the process of design and construction to build a brand and maximize profitability for our commercial builder/ developer client.