The Inspired Intermedia digital book collection
Issue link: https://inspired.uberflip.com/i/1524459
The human need for shelter is basic and universal. People crave a place to call their own; a place where they can relax and unwind, entertain, and just be themselves. But when a house evokes a visceral reaction—a gasp at a ceiling detail, wonder at the view upon entering a room, or just a warmth that can only be felt and not described—it is truly a special experience. Over the course of his illustrious career, from commercial architecture to residential architecture in the Adirondacks and now in the Lowcountry and beyond, Marc Camens has designed homes that come with such an experience. How does he unfailingly touch the hearts of his clients and their guests? By designing with people in mind. While it seems obvious that an architect would design homes for people, Marc goes a step beyond by tapping into the emotional needs of his clients—listening to what they want, of course, but also factoring in what they didn't realize they needed. And, most importantly, he doesn't stop at the exterior walls - he and the client consider how they will live both inside the walls and in their outdoor environments and then incorporate comfortable and effortless transitions into both areas. For the couple who works from home, their idea for offices on opposite sides of the floor plan might evolve into an adjoining "man cave" for him or a private balcony for her. For an owner who loves watching thunderstorms, a screened porch with a lifted ceiling might be something she never considered before talking to Marc, who is ready to guide his clients' imagination to greater heights. Yet he is always open to entertaining—and often executing—bolder ideas that challenge the lines of tradition. Marc's current design philosophy has been a culmination of education, collaboration, and 50 years of striving for continuous improvement. This formed Marc's design philosophy: • Design should embrace the clients' vision and lifestyle. • All designs begin with spatial flow—both horizontal and vertical. • Buildings should be integrated with the site and responsive to sun, wind, and vistas. • Materials, texture, and color provide energy within space. The question I have been asked is, "What makes Marc's designs special?" It is loyalty to his design principles, commitment to the client's vision, and creating a unique home for each and every client. Marc listens to the client's dreams, interprets the dream into architecture, and has that sixth sense of knowing what they want but did not express. The design then is responsive to their lifestyle and personal preferences—this provides the individual WOW factor. ARCHITECT'S ADVICE Year Round Outdoor Living Year Round Outdoor Living in Colder Climates in Colder Climates By Marc Camens Camens Architectural Group, Johns Island, SC