Great Design

Every project is highly individual and site specific. We do not have a special “Zeitgeist style” that we apply to every project, but rather observe, listen, research and think about site and owners, neighborhood, location and environment. We then develop a custom solution in a very interactive process with the clients.

Green architecture

Sustainable (green) architecture plays an important role in reducing global warming. Over 30% of the nations total energy is consumed by the construction and operation of buildings. Green buildings can reduce the energy needed for operation by 90% compared to traditional construction, and some climates even allow for completely passive construction, eliminating the need for any mechanical heating or cooling.

On the individual level, green architecture offers a much healthier living environment and vastly increased comfort. The reduction or elimination of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), found mainly in paints and adhesives leads to substantially less offgassing of toxic fumes over the years so that you inhale less or ideally none of these toxic substances.

At Zeitgeist, we always evaluate the entire spectrum of “greening options” for a project and decide together with the client what works best for them and the planet. In some cases, this leads us to recommend remodels rather than new construction, as it is often possible to achieve the same dramatic changes in a remodel, while utilizing existing structures. The Nice Residence is an example of this environmentally friendly strategy.

Innovation leads to better value for your money

There is innovation in every project. Our office uses the latest software technology to significantly reduce drawing time while reducing the chance of errors. These time savings allow us to increase research and design time on every project, while keeping costs low. We have developed optimized and climate adjusted heating systems for our residential clients that will significantly reduce carbon footprint and energy costs.  In-house energy modeling gives us direct feedback on the impact of any change while designing. All in all, these tools and procedures allow us to build better buildings while keeping costs under tight control.

Client Satisfaction

Client satisfaction is a core value to Zeitgeist. Designing successful buildings requires an open and positive relationship between the designer and the client, and we spend much time discussing the clients habits and preferences during the design phase. While the construction documents are being prepared, we typically update our clients weekly on the project, and supply material samples and new 3D-renderings. When the project enters construction, we stay involved with frequent site visits. We also offer construction management services to clients who wish not to go with a general contractor, thereby reducing construction cost while increasing detail and finish quality.