We are a community minded architecture + design studio.

We believe in building belonging through designs that deepen relationship to ourselves, others, and the natural world.

Dream Big:

We translate your strongest values into design priorities that - when built - shape your life to reflect what you care most about

Think Holistically:

We consider all possibilities and give you the clarity of a comprehensive vision which you can take on all at once, or over time as funds/energy allow

Welcome Nature:

We do more with less by inviting nature into daily life through daylighting, landscape design, material expression, and blurring the lines between “outside” and “inside”

Include Community:

We design for clients’ needs while keeping a “we” perspective in mind, so that every project benefits the vast web of living beings blessed to call this land home

Design Your Life:

We recognize that what we build architecturally thereafter shapes our lives and take great responsibility in creating spaces that have a daily positive impact ( to inspire, to connect, and to uplift the things most dear to you.)

What people are saying

  • "Barron applies a unique perspective in his designs that fosters community connection while preserving space for solitude, privacy and restoration."

    Tracy | Missoula, MT

  • "A building is never just a building -- it is representative of a hope, a dream, a personal truth. It is grounding and relieving to know that what we spoke about will be held and prioritized through every phase of design."

    Shannon | Seattle, WA

  • "We really appreciated Whitney's assistance with supporting our longer term vision and then breaking it into realistic phases. With two young kids, he helped us talk through our family's growth and development plan and how our space can adapt over time."

    Matthew | Missoula, MT

  • "Barron took the time to genuinely understand our family dynamics and lifestyle. The resulting design is a vision that is inspiring and aligned with our values. He is a communicative and reliable professional who is also an absolute delight."

    Elizabeth | Missoula MT

  • "There was an inspirational energy felt throughout the design process and now visually on paper. Our design is a work of art that truly represents home to us."

    Tracy | Missoula, MT

  • "Every aspect of our project that he worked on not only met but exceeded our expectations. He listened to our concerns, our constraints as well as what we thought a successful outcome would look like."

    Pam | Missoula, MT

What does “COLO” mean anyway?

Colō is the Latin root of the word “culture.” It is pronounced ˈkoː.loː and is an “I” statement with the following meanings:

I take care of…

I inhabit…

I protect…

I nurture…

I honor…

Every project begins with understanding your values because that is what matters most to reflect in what gets built together.

Photo by Ethan Wiese on Unsplash

How do we BUILD belonging?

Click the drop-downs below to find out.

  • Our design approach adds housing to our neighborhoods through creative infill that enhance what we love most, without “kicking out the ladder” to others arriving later to the party that is this wonderful place!

    By providing flexible housing options for people in all stages of life, we increase supply, and help alleviate the financial burden of housing on the most vulnerable (the elderly, the poor, immigrants, etc), allowing more people to live where they want (not only the westside.)

    Perhaps most importantly, when you densify your property, you gain a tighter web of community connection that only happens through proximity, and the shared responsibility of stewarding the spaces we love alongside one another.

  • Property lines that communicate “BACK OFF” simply do not reflect the values of this community, but are often the norm. Unbeknownst to us, too many have inherited an architecture of separateness, and would benefit from reflecting the opposite value: welcoming.

    We have a massive opportunity to expand the walkable space by blurring the boundaries between public and private (mostly at the sidewalk), creating a new frontier of unique community spaces woven throughout our community, encouraging wonder, play, creativity, and interaction between neighbors .

  • We build relationships with people who care, regardless of whether you own property or operate a business.

    Here we gather like-minded people who want to see their values expressed in the built environment, and empower them to be part of building that vibrant future.

    This happens through various gatherings, from advocating as a group of concerned citizens to guerilla community-builds, story-nights, backyard concerts, and more.

    Get in touch if you’re interested in organizing your neighbors for something special!

Awards and Recognitions

  • Faculty awarded to one graduate showing an affinity for leadership, commitment to service, and promise of professional merit

  • The Dune Ecology Pavilion based in Port Aransas, Texas, was awarded for exhibiting design excellence in architecture.

  • I organized a team and submitted a winning design titled “Porch with a Home” for a small home community in Austin, TX which has been built six times, and houses people exiting homelessness

  • A pair of dwellings - Parabay Homes - were selected by a panel of architects for the AIA Seattle Home of Distinction program in Spring of 2018 as an example of what strong conceptual design can do within an extremely modest budget and how design can address important issues of housing and density

  • While working at BLOCK Architects in Seattle, our keystone initiative, The BLOCK Project, was selected by the International Living Future Institute, to be researched as a radically inclusive affordable housing initiative, which empowered home-owners to place small homes in their backyards for formerly homeless individuals