Beautiful passive homes for generations to come

Designed Around Your Life

Arkitects offers a clear path for first-time homeowners who want a sustainable, high-performing home without guesswork. We are a boutique architecture firm specialising in passive-house residential design for eco-conscious families in the Pacific Northwest, and we structure our work in three service tiers so you can choose the level of guidance that fits your goals, timeline, and comfort with complexity.

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Three clear tiers
Concept Only, Design + Documentation, and Full Service

Performance-first process
100% of projects since 2021 target LEED Silver or higher

Transparent expectations
Average project delivery timeline: 14 months from contract to construction documents

What working with us feels like

You receive a process that is calm, structured, and design-led. We use Revit, Rhino, and Enscape as primary design tools to help clients understand decisions early, refine what matters, and move toward construction with confidence.

A boutique team shaped by broader practice experience across 212 completed projects to date
Thoughtful sustainability standards, including carbon neutral office operations since 2023
A repeat client rate of 68%, reflecting trust in both process and outcome

A residential process with real structure

For first-time homeowners, clarity matters as much as creativity. Our service model is built to reduce uncertainty: define the vision, test the design, document it carefully, and support the build at the level you need.

While Arkitects specializes in commercial, mixed-use, and civic architecture as a broader practice, our boutique residential offering translates that rigor into homes that feel deeply personal, efficient, and lasting.

1. Define direction

We establish priorities around site, budget, energy goals, family routines, and long-term flexibility before design decisions gain momentum.

2. Shape the home

Concept studies, massing, daylight, material character, and passive-house thinking are developed into a design that feels precise rather than generic.

3. Document thoroughly

For clients selecting Design + Documentation or Full Service, we prepare the drawings and coordination needed to move toward permitting and pricing.

4. Support delivery

Full Service clients keep Arkitects involved through contractor coordination and construction-phase guidance, reducing friction when details matter most.

Three service tiers, matched to how much support you want

Every client begins with thoughtful design. The difference is how far we carry the work with you. Hourly rates range from $145 (junior designer) to $295 (principal), and final fees depend on scope, complexity, site conditions, and the level of service selected.

For early clarity

Concept Only

Best for families who need a strong design direction, feasibility insight, and a compelling vision before deciding how to proceed with documentation.

Site and goals review
Concept plans and massing studies
Material and architectural character direction
Early sustainability strategy

A strong fit if you want expert thinking up front and may phase the project over time.

Ask about Concept Only

Most selected

For confident progress

Design + Documentation

Our core offering for homeowners who want a fully developed design and the technical drawing set needed to move toward construction.

Everything in Concept Only
Detailed design development
Coordinated construction documents
Digital visualization using Revit, Rhino, and Enscape

Ideal if you want a clear, buildable package while retaining flexibility in contractor relationships.

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For hands-on partnership

Full Service

Designed for clients who want Arkitects engaged from first ideas through construction-phase support and ongoing coordination.

Everything in Design + Documentation
Contractor communication support
Construction-phase review and responses
Continuity from concept to built result

Recommended for complex sites, ambitious sustainability goals, or homeowners who want a steady expert partner throughout.

Discuss Full Service

What shapes cost and timeline

We believe transparency builds trust. Rather than promise unrealistic shortcuts, we explain what actually affects effort: site complexity, level of detailing, permitting requirements, consultant coordination, and how much support you want during construction.

Across the practice, the average project delivery timeline is 14 months from contract to construction documents. Residential work can move faster or slower depending on approvals, revisions, and the ambitions of the home itself.

Typical pricing inputs

Site slope and access
Square footage and complexity
Passive-house performance goals
Permit and review conditions

What stays consistent

Clear scope conversations
Documented decision-making
Design rigor at every tier
A home built to last generations

How to choose the right tier

The best option usually comes down to how much certainty you want now, how involved you want us to remain later, and how complex your site and sustainability goals are.

Choose Concept Only if…

You need expert direction before committing to a full build path, or you want to test whether a property can support the home you imagine.

Choose Design + Documentation if…

You want a complete architectural package with strong technical clarity, and you are ready to move from ideas into a buildable design.

Choose Full Service if…

You value continuity, want help navigating construction decisions, or know your project will benefit from close architect involvement through delivery.

Start with the right conversation, not a hard sell

If you are weighing scope, budget, or whether passive-house design is the right fit for your family, we can help you sort that out early. Arkitects is licensed to practice in 38 states, operates from Portland and Austin, and brings the discipline of an award-winning studio to residential work that feels personal from the first meeting onward.

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