Architecture

Design starts before a line is drawn.

Every home begins with how you live. Our architects design around that — then our build team brings it to life with the same team, the same standards, and the same attention to what doesn't show once the walls close.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE ARCHITECTURE

Beauty and braun. Grace and grit. Elegance and strength. Charm and power. Aesthetic and athletic. 

We intuit these phrases as high praise. We recognize the sophistication and muscle of a great athlete, hear the majesty and feel the emotion of great music, are captivated by powerful, charming people. We know instinctively that style without substance is weakness. Or as grandad might have said, “All hat. No cattle.”


Why then do we evaluate homes as beautiful, graceful, elegant, and charming while ignoring their gritty, strong, resilient, athletic, and durable attributes that could make them safer, healthier, durable, and more comfortable?


Balancing building science, user-centric design, material selection, technology integration, durability, and sustainability, the Kala architecture team designs homes that are as strong, athletic, resilient, and durable as they are beautiful.

How We Work

A process built around your home — not the other way around.

Every project starts with listening. Before any line is drawn, we spend time understanding how you live — your daily rhythms, the way you use space, what you've loved and what's frustrated you about every place you've lived before.

This phase is about alignment. We're not just collecting a wish list; we're building a shared understanding of what your home needs to do.

  • Programming and needs assessment
  • Site analysis and orientation study
  • Budget and feasibility conversation
  • Conceptual massing and form exploration
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Programming & Site Study

This is where the home takes shape — architecturally and materially. Our design team works in-house, which means the people making structural decisions are the same people thinking about light, proportion, and how a room feels at 7 a.m. in January.

You'll make real choices here: how the building sits on the land, how rooms connect, what materials define the exterior and interior. Renderings and models help you see what those decisions actually mean before they're built.

  • Schematic and concept design
  • Material and finish selections
  • Interior design integration
  • Energy modeling and performance planning
  • Structural and mechanical coordination
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Schematic Design & Material Selection

When we build, we build the way we designed — with the same team, the same standards, and the same attention to the details that won't be visible once the walls close. Our in-house framing crews and field leadership mean that what's drawn is what gets built.

We hold ourselves to performance targets that most builders never attempt. Air sealing, insulation continuity, thermal bridging — these are things that happen in the walls, and they're either right or they're not. We test to know the difference.

  • In-house framing and envelope construction
  • Third-party performance verification
  • Blower door and airtightness testing
  • Mechanical, HVAC, and ERV installation
  • Final walkthrough and homeowner orientation
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Construction & Performance Testing

DESIGN-BUILD

Everything under one roof

Designing and building anything functional, beautiful, and strong is the result of a collaborative process that remains constant from concept all the way through design, engineering, construction, and the final product - your home.


Design-build allows for an integrated approach, better collaboration with your design and development team, faster project delivery, streamlined communication with the team bringing your new home to life.


Ultimately, unifying design and build leads to greater client satisfaction by delivering projects that are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality. Clients benefit from a smoother, more integrated project experience, with fewer surprises or setbacks along the way. They also gain confidence in the expertise and professionalism of the unified design and build team, leading to a long-term relationship that transcends the typical transactional nature of home construction.

Kala's Architecture + Design Team

What to Expect During the Design Process

STEP 1

The first major milestone in the design process is pre-design. This phase is where the design team gathers information, analyzes the project requirements, and establishes the groundwork for a successful project. This phase precedes the formal design activities, and focuses on understanding the clients needs, site conditions, budget constraints, and other relevant factors. The primary goals of the pre-design phase are to define the project scope, identify constraints and opportunities, and establish a clear understanding of the project’s objectives. Because of the integrated design build process employed by Kala, we are able to leverage everyone including estimators, project managers, and field team to help ensure the project is headed in the right direction from inception.

STEP 2

During the schematic design phase, the design team develops and refines the design concept based on the information gathered in the pre-design phase. This phase is often characterized by the creation of preliminary drawings, diagrams, and models that convey the overall design direction and key elements of the project. The primary goal is to explore and communicate design ideas to the client and stakeholders and to establish a clear and agreed-upon concept before moving into more detailed design work. During this phase the design team will start to work closely with the budgeting team, to make sure that the project does not exceed its financial goals.

STEP 3

Design Development is the stage where the design team refines the approved schematic design into a more detailed and comprehensive construction package. This phase focuses on further developing the design, addressing technical aspects, preparing the project for construction, and more formally engaging the Kala build team. This phase also inlcudes collaboration with various stakeholders, including the client, engineers, and consultants, to ensure that the design meets all the requirements and can be successfully implemented. Additionally this will include honing in on a more complete pricing package.

STEP 4

The final phase within the formal design process is Construction Documentation. During this phase detailed and comprehensive documents are created to serve as a guide for the construction of the project. The primary purpose of Construction Documents is to communicate the design intent to our construction team and other stakeholders involved in the construction process. These documents typically include drawings, specifications, and other relevant information necessary for the successful execution of the project. Additionally in this phase the final construction budget is firmly established, permits are approved, and the project is scheduled for construction.

Finally, our design team's work isn’t done until you have the keys to your new home in your hand. They remain involved and active during construction providing guidance and feedback to the inevitable reality of changes that are requested by clients and real-world issues that arise when turning the design into a fully constructed home.