Firm Philosophy

"...the design phase of a project traditionally accounts for a small part of the cost of the total project budget, but this small percent is the single, most important factor in determining the cost and success of the remaining percent of the project!"

paraphrased from an article in the trade journal, Building Construction, circa 1987.

Bass Studio Architects is a design firm!

Design is the most intangible, yet, the single most important service an architect brings to the project.

BSA defines design as the process of making individual decisions toward a complete, conceptual whole; an exercise in creative problem solving. The role of the architect is not only that of helping to arrive at the decisions, but to help provide structure to the questions.

Bass Studio Architect’s design work is consistently governed by a strong concept. Concepts come about in variety of ways; most often based upon themes suggested by the function of the enviroment, the Client’s interests, or unique programatic concerns. The conceptual design basis provides a yardstick against which to measure subsequent decisions.

Value: BSA consistently employs value oriented materials. We find that materials employed consistent with a strong design theme need not be expensive, fragile or exotic to achieve a rich environment.

The Client is the most essential member of the design team. The Client’s goals, budgets and preferences set the parameters by which the key questions are structured.

The Project is not the drawings or the finished construction. To BSA, the project is the process of getting there, the decisions, the Client and interactive structure by which the work is completed and the feelings that remain when the construction is completed.

BSA defines success as arriving at a physical reality that manifests the stated goals and desires of the client; on time and on budget.

To do good work
To work well with others
To be of service
To be remembered fondly