Things we like and the things we like about them.
We are curious and passionate about what works. We love exploring architecture, urban design, and lively community. Join us here to learn more about what we do and why we do it.
When You Need a Little Extra Space: Caddis Designs Accessory Structures
Sometimes homeowners find that they need just a little extra space – a musician’s practice area, an alternative medicine studio, a woodshop, a greenhouse, a guest house, or a rental unit. Caddis has worked with a number of clients to design their dream spaces. Caddis also handles the often-complicated zoning and permitting processes in a variety of jurisdictions.
Architecture of Contemplation
Caddis Collaborative is based in Boulder, Colorado, a city known for its connection to a variety of contemplative practices. Quite a few Caddis team members are drawn to these meditative traditions, and the firm has developed a specialty in designing spaces for such practices. We are glad to be able to “walk our talk” (or perhaps “walk our silence!”) as we use our architects’ thinking caps to create spaces we personally practice in and cherish. Learn about the contemplative places we have designed.
Caddis Spotlight: Dharma Ocean Foundation
Caddis Collaborative is known for designing contemplative spaces. One such project is the Dharma Ocean Foundation facility in Boulder, which includes meditation spaces, administrative spaces, and a recording studio.
Caddis Spotlight: Drala Mountain Center
Caddis Collaborative staff have been designing contemplative spaces for a long time! Bryan Bowen, principal architect, and Kelly Siu, senior architect, have designed several of the buildings at Drala Mountain Center (formerly Shambhala Mountain Center) in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. Using feng shui principles and landscape-appropriate architecture, Bryan and Kelly designed a set of buildings that fit into an Asian-inspired natural landscape – in Colorado.
Ideas at Play: How Adults Can Design for Children
If you design cities for kids, you will make a wonderful, walkable, equitable, and accessible world. Caddis Collaborative has had many opportunities over the years to design stimulating and enriching places for children and youth. We believe strongly that architects should ask those they are designing for what they want. We ask kids what they want, and we take the risk of being open to their ideas. As a result, we design buildings that reflect their needs.
Designing for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have distinct housing needs and circumstances, affecting them and their families. Each person is unique, and adults with I/DD fall across a large spectrum of abilities and challenges. The opportunity is to create meaningful homes for individuals in this community. Common design elements are key and are based on principles of universal design and full accessibility.
Trauma-Informed Design: Inclusive Buildings for All
Architects are embracing trauma-informed design as an aspect of universal design so that spaces designed for the broad population will also support users with past trauma. This approach to architecture foregrounds the needs of those who have been homeless, have been abused, are experiencing physical or intellectual disabilities, or are otherwise at risk. The goal is to create designs that promote well-being.
Neuroscience and Architecture: What Science Teaches Us About Designing Buildings for Mental Health and Well-Being
Caddis Collaborative is excited to be working with consulting architect Jim Kehoe, who brings his work with architecture and neuroscience to our projects in western Colorado. Thanks to Jim, our work on a multifamily neighborhood in Ridgway, Colorado, as well as our work on affordable housing developments is designed to support residents’ health and well-being.
Human-Centered Design: Making the Built Environment Work for Everyone
At Caddis Collaborative, we are keenly interested in the actively evolving field of human-centered design. Whether we’re thinking about what neuroscience teaches us about how design choices affect the human experience of the built environment or whether we're designing for particular groups of people, we’re curious about what we’re learning and we’re starting to apply these principles to our projects.
Caddis Fly Lunch and Learn: How Our Team Stays Current
At Caddis Collaborative, we’re always learning and constantly honing our practice as architects. Each week we get together as a team for our “Caddis Fly Lunch and Learn” series.
We’re proud to be in good company.
We love being part of the community that’s bringing good design to good people. That’s why we contribute to and participate in these organizations – so we can bring the best emerging ideas to you.
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Let us bring your vision to life.
A beautiful space that fits your best life. A sustainable build. A fun and easy design process. We’re with you every step of the way – from the beginning dream to the finished project!
