Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Ballentine.
Ben, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a family of realtors who had an infatuation with Architecture. I spent much of my childhood with them, touring endless houses and learning firsthand how the design of a space has a subconscious impact on how a home makes you feel. A poorly designed space can be sensed immediately, even without training in Architecture. I began to study the aspects of designs that had a positive or negative impact on me. Experiencing this as a child, I began developing an internal set of guidelines that later became the foundation of my approach to projects. After deciding that my passion was for creating spaces rather than selling them, I began focusing on a career in Architecture. After getting my degree from the University of Colorado, I spent the next 10 years apprenticing under some of the most talented Architects in the country and honing my technical and professional skills. After getting my license, I opened up Ballentine Architects Studio.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Architecture is one of the most rewarding, frustrating, intense, complicated, and satisfying professions. Every project has its fair share of struggles. Almost by definition, the design process is a challenge to combine the spaces dictated by the program in a way that is spatially compelling, aesthetically pleasing, and conforms to codes and budgets. We go through seemingly endless ideas, variations, and iterations before a design reaches its final form. As we develop the designs, we must consider budget and buildability, including incorporating all of the building’s critical infrastructure. We then have to get that project approved and permitted, oftentimes through lengthy and cumbersome entitlement and review processes. The sight of a stamp hitting blueprints and the subsequent first shovel in the ground brings about the most incredible feelings of elation. Every project is a puzzle, some more complicated than others, but at our core, we get immense satisfaction from solving those puzzles. It’s the essence of being creative.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I founded Ballentine Architects with the goal of creating a studio that specializes in a truly tailored experience and product. Our personal approach, diverse team, and obsessive attention to detail are what I would consider the signature characteristics of our studio. Through our unique project roadmap, each of our homes becomes a reflection of the client’s personality, lifestyle, and tastes. Every project that we undertake is a collaborative effort, blending input and feedback from the owners and filtering it through our expertise and design philosophies. We are not creating our own home, we’re designing the dream home of our client, and it’s important that they be involved in the process and are heard. The end results are breathtaking custom homes that exude the essence of the client in every aspect. Our studio is intentionally formatted to leverage the various backgrounds and unique perspectives of our eclectic team. We foster an environment that encourages participation in every phase of each project. We use this process to test and critique our own work to push for constant design progression. This, combined with the team’s various specialties, allows us to provide an unmatched design quality, level of service, and execution. Our ultimate goal is to offer our clients a fun and positive experience and bring their dreams and visions to life. We don’t just design houses; we create homes that our clients will cherish for years to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ballentinearchitects.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballentinearchitects/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ballentinearch/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballentine-architects-studio
