The Inspired Intermedia digital book collection
Issue link: https://inspired.uberflip.com/i/860776
A R C H I T E CT U R E 271 DECA Inc. When a home is built, it shapes the natural environment. In the right hands, its design is shaped by it as well. For Sallee Humphrey and David Hyman, principals of DECA, Inc. nature informs design, interior spaces communicate with outside ones, and homeowners' lifestyles are integrated into the composition. Together, the pair has designed an extensive collection of residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings. When viewed as a whole, each structure is impressive and elegant, but it is in the details that Sallee and David's artistry becomes most apparent. Their dedication to collaboration and merging the disciplines of architecture and interior design is evident in every one of their buildings. Inspired by the Northwest modern home her family designed and built when she was in the third grade, Sallee knew from a very early age that she loved design. Natural materials factor heavily in her aesthetic as lead interior designer of DECA. David found his passion for architecture after college, when he worked with a Danish carpenter and boat builder who instilled in him an appreciation for the minimalist elegance of Scandinavian design. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Sallee and David's homegrown approach to design makes the pair a perfect match for the region. When meeting new clients, Sallee and David look for a spark of common sensibility and passion. The relationships they build are as important to them as any of the other factors shaping the design. This close relationship between homeowners and the DECA team is apparent in each residence. From the first moment, the DECA team immerses themselves in the lifestyles of their clients to fully understand how each space will be used so homes are both functional and graceful. Finding sustainable solutions that have a low impact on the environment is a priority. Attention to human scale, the use of natural materials, and indoor-outdoor spaces that flow seamlessly are common themes in their work. The result is truly harmonious architecture. LEFT: The CYRK Building brought new life to a blighted site and helped to revitalize a transitional neighborhood. This LEED Platinum Certified, live-work building includes commercial space and the owners' offices below, and a 4,500-square-foot living space above that is designed to be easily converted into four units should the family choose to downsize in the future. Photograph by Michael Mathers PORTLAND