Written by Heather Hatmaker
Samsel Architects on Incorporating Sustainability into Your Business’ Foundation
Form follows function is the architectural principle that states the way something appears should be representative of the way it’s used. Growing up with two parents who practiced architecture, I learned to recognize this principle early on, and I believe it can apply to more than just architecture. Businesses, and entrepreneurs especially, can authentically live the values that are relevant to them. Their form—their brand, the work they do, and the people they hire—should represent their function—the values they hold, the causes they champion, and their mission.
While I did not become an architect myself, I was drawn to the local Asheville firm Samsel Architects because I resonated with their purpose and their sense of design. When I joined the firm in 2016, the principal architects, Duncan McPherson and Nathan Bryant, were halfway through a ten-year ownership transition. The transition period created an opportunity to mold the business into what they wanted, learning how to build on a legacy while also evolving the brand into something that reflected them. Working alongside Duncan and Nathan, I have witnessed an intentional commitment to their values, especially sustainability.
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