Cultivate, Inc.

The projects I prioritize are focused on producing more affordable housing built in more sustainable ways. This includes both where and how the housing is built. For example, by locating housing in walkable neighborhoods, we can give families the opportunity to save money on automobile expenses and also decrease their carbon footprint. In terms of how housing is built, we seek to incorporate energy-efficiency measures and low-impact materials in as cost-effective a manner as possible, balancing economic and environmental objectives. We are also particularly interested in improving housing ownership opportunities, since renting is economically unsustainable for many in our region. The nexus of these considerations: ownership of housing in walkable neighborhoods, built with simple, cost-effective energy measures—forms the bullseye of innovative project development for us.
What products and/or services does your company provide? Please be specific and thorough.
Cultivate is currently a one-person company and my practice entails a relatively wide skillset: architect, developer and energy-efficiency consultant chief among them. My primary focus is on my work as an architect-developer pursuing the development of small-scale infill housing with an aim toward affordability and sustainability. As a small and agile company, I am exploring innovative pathways to these goals. I’m currently pursuing a pilot project in Springfield, Oregon wherein we’ll build shared housing on a typical residential lot that will provide 4 to 6 semi-independent cooperatively owned housing units resulting in homeownership opportunities for a fraction of the price of even the cheapest houses in the local area. The project will be a partnership of private investors and a local non-profit, SquareOne Villages, using a community land trust and a housing cooperative to enable affordable ownership. My role in this project is that of developer, architect, and energy consultant (the home will also be “net zero energy ready”).

In addition to this development work, I offer my services as a high-performance design consultant, working directly with clients to further their energy efficiency and sustainability goals. I am a Certified Passive House Consultant, and this work is currently my primary source of income. This work is primarily with net zero energy or Passive House multifamily and commercial buildings, in service to architecture firms or working directly with building owners throughout the US.

As an architect I also provide infill residential design services, especially for “missing middle” housing types. Projects I provide architectural services for typically promote infill housing development (adding housing opportunities in walkable neighborhoods), and/or pursue strong energy efficiency goals. Balancing these two goals for a given budget is a constant part of my work.

Number of people who work for your business regularly at least eight hours per week
1
My company has been in business since