When the firm was created, what were the main goals? How have those evolved over time?
Four like-minded young architects founded AOME Architects in 1986. We believed high-end residential firms should tailor their designs to the needs and desires of the families relying on us rather than focus on the satisfying architectural urges of the designer. We have stayed true to that goal throughout our history. Along the way, we have refined our design processes to deliver the highest level of bespoke service to our clients and project team members.
Clients appreciate your collaborative design approach, what are the key elements of your process?
All our projects begin with a robust predesign discovery process to create a custom design brief. This process includes recommendations, a timeline, and cost projections to guide our clients forward with confidence. Like laying the foundation of a home, these early steps ensure everything we build together is solid and designed for success. We always look multiple steps ahead, evaluating changes or new ideas that could impact the results and work to make informed decisions throughout our process.
Your work embraces the best in luxury design. How does a rigorous attention to detail accomplish this?
Drawing and detailing is a tool we use to discover what a design authentically ‘wants’ to be—we just need to listen. It’s how we assure the various elements of a home agree with one another to achieve the harmony we all seek in our living environments.
How are individual designs customized to each client?
This is easy to do since we enjoy getting to know our clients. They are a boundless font of inspiration! If you listen well, clients can tell you what they need. Each is truly unique and deserving of an individualized response in our designs.
Your firm provides feasibility studies to assist owners in selecting the right property and more importantly, avoiding the wrong property. Talk about this undertaking.
Many architects, realtors, and clients misunderstand the primary goal of a feasibility study. It’s not just about finding a definite “yes”; clients are often more concerned with getting clear “no” answers. We focus on identifying potential deal-breakers and then quickly and accurately assess their significance. For issues that are less clear-cut, we help clients evaluate the risks, providing clarity from low to high probabilities. By systematically addressing each potential obstacle, the correct decision path emerges.
What is important to know about interpreting client needs?
A rapport must be built quickly, through engaging conversations, putting the client at ease by meeting them where they are. This requires rapidly establishing trust that there will be no judgment, and a demonstrated ability to hear the spoken and unspoken cues that will guide the design solutions.
AOME has won a variety of notable awards. Tell us about what these honors represent for you and your work.
Awards signify and validate for our team that we have had a positive impact on our community and the building industry. These awards are appreciated but can require considerable effort to pursue—time better spent on our work itself. Nothing can top our chief reward: the heartfelt reactions of our clients.
What keeps you excited about residential architecture?
Every project is fresh and unique because every client and site presents new challenges.
Outside of architecture, what is influencing your design thinking?
Flora and fauna have always drawn attention and remain a rich source of inspiration and beauty for our architecture.
