11
Design Principles
Over the course of his career, Marc Camens has developed a unique approach to architecture. It's centered
on the people who live in the home, and includes out-of-the-box thinking that results in truly captivating
residences. His approach is built on a foundation of several guiding principles designed to evoke specific
emotional responses and create a cohesive environment for the homeowner. From wrapping the house around
people's lifestyles to creating flow and energy in the home, Marc designs homes for real people living real lives.
"Wrap the house around the way you live."
The notion of home means something different to everyone. Neither the client nor the architectural team is served
by locking themselves into a notion of what home "should be." As humans, it's easy to fall into preconceptions
and trends. However, looking beyond an inventory list of rooms to relevant details about how clients celebrate
the holidays, whether they work from home or commute, and even if they're playful, studious, or live a fast-paced
lifestyle, gives everyone a picture of what the clients really want from a home. Houses are generic, but people are
not. It's the architect's job to dig in and discover what makes the clients unique so they can wrap the house around
their lives. The goal is always to relate the architecture to the people living within it, and enhance their experience
with the captivating site upon which their home will be built. Standing on the site, experiencing the potential
views, and taking the clients' personalities into account are some of the best ways to begin a plan that maximizes
how they will live in the home. Consideration for the owners' interaction with the building always comes before
thinking about how the external world will view the home's beautiful façade from the street.
