Building Relationships with Local Experts
There’s a saying in the world of high-end residential construction as it relates to quality: You can have Scope, Time, or Budget—choose two of the three. Once an owner’s vision is defined, establishing realistic budgets and timelines becomes essential. However, the true cornerstone of a successful project lies in assembling the right team of design and build professionals to bring that vision to life.
For over two decades, I’ve built invaluable relationships with Truckee-Tahoe’s most talented architects, designers, and builders. This local expertise allows me to guide clients seamlessly from property selection to design and through every phase of construction and landscaping. As your trusted resource for all aspects of new construction in Truckee’s resort communities, I take pride in connecting you with the best professionals and ensuring every detail reflects your unique needs. My Truckee Spotlight blog showcases these experts and the incredible contributions they’re making to our community’s built environment.
Architect Spotlight
Brendan Riley @designSense
“My approach to designing a home continues to evolve, but my goal remains the same – creating a set of site-driven experiences, with aesthetic and practical considerations all together.”
Lahontan home designed by Brendan Riley. Photo provided by Jeff Freeman Photography
Brendan, how would you describe your architectural philosophy?
Architecture, whether a home in the mountains or a grand European cathedral, is fundamentally a set of site-driven experiences, of a place, of a time, of a culture. My designs are rooted in their sites, the natural environment, the landscape itself. Understanding the nuances of each location informs the plan and the room adjacencies, it helps to answer the questions of ‘what goes where’.
From these locations, each space should become a unique and intentional experience, with the architecture acting to frame and foster these human feelings. I design my architecture as a series of human experiences, from a welcoming Guest Entry to a relaxing Bedroom retreat, the spaces succeed when they are appropriately proportioned and mindfully appointed, taking every advantage of the specific qualities of the land and setting.
I grew up overseas, in East Africa, and traveled extensively throughout the world, a blessing of having diplomats for parents. As I began to understand a world of architecture, it always interested me how different spaces would feel – how the architecture of these spaces actually create and control these feelings.
As an Architect, I want my designs to create positive feelings. It feels good to be in appropriately scaled, comfortable spaces. Using proportions, materials, light and sound are all ways to foster these feelings and each part of what bring to my design process, along with an understanding of the site and the deliberate response to the site.
Lahontan home designed by Brendan Riley. Photo provided by Jeff Freeman Photography
What inspired you to become a solo practitioner?
When I was in first and second grade, I watched my diplomat Dad design a home that he built in San Diego. I knew from an early age that I wanted to become an Architect, and practice somewhere beautiful. After graduating from UC Berkeley and after a few decades of working in an established firm, I decided that I wanted to realize another of my childhood dreams, to work for myself.
As a solo practitioner, I can choose to focus my attention on what I really love about this profession, the design process and the collaboration that goes into achieving great spaces, without some of the distraction and inefficiency that can come from larger offices.
Lahontan home designed by Brendan Riley. Photo provided by Jeff Freeman Photography
It seems your designs are anchored in subtlety and individual expression. Has your design and build process evolved during your career?
With great respect for my earlier designs, I am learning and growing every day. I continue to understand and hone my skills as a designer and architect and am more confident in my abilities now than I was even a few years ago. Each project is a unique set of considerations and opportunities. With a humble dose of wisdom, my approach to designing a home continues to evolve but my goal remains the same – creating a set of site-driven experiences, with aesthetic and practical considerations all together.
One thing that I continue to appreciate is the great depth of expertise we have in our building community, across all the trades and specialties. They sometimes say that an architect is a jack-of-all trades and master of none. There may be some truth to that and I pride myself on being attentive to the input that each builder has, especially where they can achieve my design intent in a more efficient or durable manner. I am a great student of my own work and I know there is so much to learn.
“I design my architecture as a series of human experiences, from a welcoming Guest Entry to a relaxing Bedroom retreat, the spaces succeed when they are appropriately proportioned and mindfully appointed, taking every advantage of the specific qualities of the land and setting.”
When addressing larger programs with varying aesthetics, how important is it to you to maintain a sense of human connection and approachability in your designs?
We understand architecture through each of our senses. Fundamentally, it is all about intent and good design is intentional. Across a variety of aesthetics, or what we may call styles, there are a set of intensions that must be understood and applied. We may enjoy that an edited, perhaps simple, perhaps “modern” space really lets us focus on the incredible view through that perfectly located window. A more spartan aesthetic can help foster these feelings of focus.
Similarly, the arrival space in a home, what some may call the foyer or guest entry, may want to have a slightly lower ceiling and finishes which help control sound and echoes – all to create a sense of hospitality and of being welcomed. The architecture I admire understands how spaces create these human connections and approachability. Generally, for homes especially, these are towards a positive effect.
Lahontan home designed by Brendan Riley. Photo provided by Jeff Freeman Photography
What range of services does designSense provide that enhances the owner’s experience?
designSense offers me, and that’s a start. I pride myself on listening; to the client, to the builder, to the site, to myself. The design process itself is a form of communication – a conversation with words and with pictures and with details and with documents.
I offer an individualized and personal design experience, from early concepts to completion. Early sketches become three dimensional models. Real-time renderings allow my clients to understand the designs in great detail, walking through digital spaces, understanding how the spaces are proportioned and appointed and how they contribute to the primary design objectives.
My services are focused on the process – not the product – on the feelings and not just the formula. I aspire to nothing short of magic, of alchemy, truly rewarding spaces.
What advice do you have for first time Owners?
For someone who is considering a design process, especially with an architect, for the first time, I would suggest that they spend some time putting their expectations into some sort of written document. It could be as simple as the basic numbers of bedrooms / bathrooms but what I am getting at is more emotionally driven than that. How should these spaces make you feel? What qualities help these spaces feel that way?
As you consider images of spaces that you find appealing, write down what is behind these feelings. Is it that the little breakfast nook is where you would have your morning coffee, and that you might get some splash of sunshine there? Is it how the tones and finishes are warm and inviting but with some pops of a contrasting color that brings some interest and a sense of humor.
People think of architecture as a building, or a series of spaces – they are partially right – it is a set of interactions with a setting and of the feelings we have as we explore and inhabit these places. Find an architect who can understand and communicate this!
Lahontan home designed by Brendan Riley. Photo provided by Jeff Freeman Photography
Brendan Riley is based in Truckee, CA https://designsense.studio/
