DAVID COLEMAN / ARCHITECTURE is known for creating spirited, refined, modern buildings that are timeless, light-filled and evocative of place. Trained in the arts, architecture and design, we bring a holistic sensibility to our work, incorporating sustainable, innovative materials and strong, livable visions. Our buildings are highly responsive to the particularities of the land and custom tailored to the needs and aspirations of our clients. Started in Vermont in 1986 and now based in Seattle, Washington, we have designed projects nationwide, from the Pacific Northwest to California, and from New England to New York and Florida. Our work transcends the mundane, inspires the senses and nurtures the soul.
Three primary themes guide our work; Light, Place and Time. Together they define an architecture that is visually brilliant in its use of natural and artificial light, deeply rooted in its’ cultural and physical landscape, and highly expressive of our moment in history.
By maintaining a small studio, David is able to select the projects that best fit his skills and interests and provide his clients with a high level of personal attention. He incorporates a broad range of services in addition to architectural design, including interior, furniture, landscape and urban design. This allows us to provide our clients with a thematic continuity of vision not often seen in this age of specialization.
Born and raised in New York, David Coleman, FAIA, studied fine arts and environmental design at Pratt Institute before taking up architecture at The Rhode Island School of Design. He completed his studies at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, focusing on residential and community design.
David has over 30 years of experience in the field and has completed buildings and projects in eight states. Early in his career, David worked in the office of AIA Gold Medalist Michael Graves. He started his own firm in Vermont in 1986 and in Washington State in 1996. In the early 1990’s he won a prominent commission in the highly acclaimed town of Seaside, Florida. He is a registered architect and NCARB certified for reciprocity in all fifty states.
David’s work has received numerous design awards over the years, including numerous AIA awards for projects including the Seaside Pavilion and the Zig Zag house, and the Design Achievement Award for Architecture from the Seattle Design Center. In 2011, he was elevated to the prestigious American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in light of his “significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level”.
David’s work has been published worldwide in numerous books, magazines and on-line. Early in his career he was named one of the 100 foremost architects in the world by Architectural Digest. Notable American periodicals include Architectural Digest, Architectural Record, Metropolitan Home, The New York Times, Pacific Northwest and Sunset. International periodicals include Votre Maison (France), Better Interiors (India), Mexico Design, Spazio Casa (Italy) and Arkitekten (Denmark).
David has served on an advisory board for the “House as Architecture” program at the University of Washington, College of Architecture & Urban Planning, where he has lectured, served as guest critic and taught graduate design studio. He has served on a number of advisory boards and committees over the years, including the Solar Association of Vermont, the Burlington Waterfront Board, and Allied Arts of Seattle, where he was co-chair of the Urban Environments Committee. In 1989 he was invited to speak at the Governor’s Conference on Design & the Built Environment at the Vermont State Capital. An active member of the American Institute of Architects, David has spoken at AIA events and is past co-chair of the AIA Honor Awards for Washington Architecture program.