We offer a comprehensive range of architectural services to ensure a smooth process from beginning to end.
We are dedicated to sustainable design principles that benefit both present and future generations as we strive to bring your ideas to life.
Designing Custom Homes
- Consultation: We offer a complimentary initial consultation where we engage with you to gather insights and provide valuable feedback on your ideas.
- Planning: Our team will develop tailored site and bubble diagram plans that reflect your current living situation and your aspirations for the future.
- Design Services: We partner with you to explore and articulate your aesthetic preferences, refining the plans collaboratively based on your input.
- Construction/Permit Drawings: We create detailed drawings essential for permitting and construction, clearly illustrating your home’s design intent and ensuring all code requirements are met.
- Permit Procurement: We take care of the application documents and drawings, streamlining the approval process with municipal departments to save you time.
- Additional Services: We offer a range of additional services, such as Zoning Variances, Renderings, and site surveys to support your building project based on its specific location and requirements.
- Construction Administration: Our proactive approach includes observing and reporting on the construction process to ensure it aligns with your design intent, providing you with peace of mind and fulfilling any lender or insurance requirements.
Designing Custom Renovations
- Consultations – The initial consultation is free. We will discuss your project with you and provide initial direction based on readily available information.
- Planning – We will work to define spaces for the way you want to live.
- Design Services – We then work with your ideas and goals to bring out your aesthetic styles and refine the plans based on your feedback.
- Construction/Permit Drawings – Traditionally, the majority of our work. We create these documents and drawings to illustrate your home’s design intent for instructions on code compliance and construction for municipal building department review and your contractors.
- Permit Procurement – We will complete application documents and drawings and expedite the process through municipal departments.
- Additional Service – It may be that you need Zoning Variances or Adjustments, Renderings, Promotional materials, or other work not strictly required for your building but for the area in which you build (site surveys, fire zones, floodplain, landmarked neighborhoods, etc.).
- Construction Administration – This may include our services to observe and report adherence to the design intent through the construction process on your behalf. This may be required by your financial lender, your insurance policy, your contractor, or for your peace of mind.
Multi-family & Mixed-Use Developments
- Consultations/Feasibility – We work with you to maximize the site’s potential based on your project parameters and financial projections.
- Planning & Schematic Design – We define the project’s scope and parameters while addressing any potential obstacles, such as zoning variances and requirements from neighborhood associations or local alderpersons.
- Design Development – We transform the proposal into detailed designs, including plans and elevations, for approval from the local municipality.
- Construction/Permit Drawings – We prepare all necessary drawings, details, and specifications to ensure code compliance during the permit review process and construction.
- Permit Procurement – We complete all application documents, reports, and drawings, and work to expedite the permit process through municipal departments.
- Construction Administration – We conduct onsite reviews of the construction processes to ensure adherence to design intent and code compliance.
- Additional Services – We may also offer renderings, virtual walk-throughs, promotional materials, and more.
Timber Framing
A Niche in Architecture, a Craft, and our Passion
- Timber frame architecture has a rich history that spans centuries and is designed to last for generations—making it a true heirloom.
- We specialize in working with your existing timber frame buildings, whether they are homes, barns, or loft spaces.
- Additionally, we design custom timber frame structures tailored to your specifications, down to the peg detail, or according to your builder’s requirements.
- All the previously mentioned aspects of a project apply to these structures, whether for a home, a barn, or a mass-timber complex.
- As part of our standard process, we also develop the timber frame designs into detailed “shop drawings.” These drawings provide your manufacturer or builder with the necessary information to construct the pieces exactly as designed.
Urban & Rural Planning
We offer a range of services to support sustainable socio-economic development, whether for private projects, community non-profits, or municipalities using public funding. Our services include:
- Master Planning – We assess how to integrate different levels of residential density with a mix of commercial spaces and civic amenities.
- Architectural Prototype Design – We create prototypes for various architectural elements related to housing, business, and public functions.
- Street Design Guidance – We provide recommendations for street types and proportions that accommodate varying levels of density for both vehicles and pedestrians, aiming to enhance the local market.
- Building Design Services – We can design individual buildings that align with and contribute to the overall master plan, ensuring a cohesive integration within the development.
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This drawing illustrates a design idea for how to light a challenging space. I imagine using new off-shelf, LED lights that are flat discs, that attach directly to the electric box, either on the wall or the ceiling. This provides a clean modern light. As a bonus, with the flick of a switch, you can choose the light "temperature"; "cool", "warm", "daylight", or "cool daylight".
Today, Sunday, Sam Marts, with Marts & Valentin Architects, participated in MEET ME ON MILWAUKEE. The Alderman and the Chamber of Commerce opened the street so businesses and the public could mix, mingle and trick or treat. I displayed three house models to the wonderment of all while sporting my buccaneer ensemble.
Here we are looking at the finer points of laying out a new kitchen in an existing building. The question is, how "open" the kitchen should be to the rest of the house? This point of view is from the front door. Should the right corner enclose the upper cabinets (bottom image)? Or should the kitchen be completely exposed (top image)? These drawings are to assist the owner in making this decision.
I received this greeting of springtime gratitude for a modest back porch and mudroom addition, highlighted by the redbud blooming.
"Was walking in the park this evening and admiring the redbud next to the addition. It’s holding well & suiting our needs. Thanks again for the beautiful design."
"Was walking in the park this evening and admiring the redbud next to the addition. It’s holding well & suiting our needs. Thanks again for the beautiful design."
