Hagen Architecture

Hagen Architecture A professional commercial + residential architecture firm based in Boise, Idaho with an aesthetically timeless engaging mix of modern + contemporary design.

06/10/2026

A well-designed home should feel intuitive to live in.

I try to separate communal living spaces from quieter areas like bedrooms and offices so there’s a natural division between the more active and private parts of the house.

I also pay close attention to how spaces relate to each other. Keeping spaces that function together grouped together usually creates a layout that feels more natural to move through and more efficient to live in day to day.

And every site changes the approach.

A custom home in the foothills will prioritize views and connection to the landscape, while a residential lot with neighboring homes nearby requires a lot more consideration around privacy, natural light, and window placement.

A lot of residential architecture comes down to solving those kinds of constraints in a way that still feels simple and intentional.



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06/03/2026

Turning an idea into something a client can immediately understand is a huge part of the architectural process. For many clients, the design IS the architectural process.

This pergola concept started as a hand sketch, moved into a model, and then into rendered concepts using to help communicate the vision more clearly.

Refining the model took about a week. Creating the renderings took less than an hour.

Five minutes after sending them over, the client responded with a yes.

That’s what makes tools like this so valuable. They help bridge the gap between concept and visualization so clients can emotionally connect with a space that doesn’t exist yet.

Interestingly, this stage is often where clients feel the biggest sense of momentum in a project because they can finally see and react to the vision clearly. What many people don’t realize is that some of the most technical and time-intensive work in architecture still happens after this phase as projects move into construction drawings, permitting, and coordination. (I shared more about that process in a recent post on permitting timelines.)

AI tools don’t replace the architect or the design process. They simply make communication clearer and help clients experience a project long before it’s built.

Really interesting to see how quickly design communication is evolving within architecture right now.

06/03/2026

Turning an idea into something a client can immediately understand is a huge part of the architectural process. For many clients, the design IS the architectural process.

This pergola concept started as a hand sketch, moved into a model, and then into rendered concepts using Visoid AI to help communicate the vision more clearly.

Refining the model took about a week. Creating the renderings took less than an hour.

Five minutes after sending them over, the client responded with a yes.

That’s what makes tools like this so valuable. They help bridge the gap between concept and visualization so clients can emotionally connect with a space that doesn’t exist yet.

Interestingly, this stage is often where clients feel the biggest sense of momentum in a project because they can finally see and react to the vision clearly. What many people don’t realize is that some of the most technical and time-intensive work in architecture still happens after this phase as projects move into construction drawings, permitting, and coordination. (I shared more about that process in a recent post on permitting timelines.)

AI tools don’t replace the architect or the design process. They simply make communication clearer and help clients experience a project long before it’s built.

Really interesting to see how quickly design communication is evolving within architecture right now.

05/27/2026

As the Treasure Valley continues to grow, expectations around construction and code compliance are changing too.

Building departments and inspectors are becoming more thorough than they were even 5–10 years ago.

Codes continue to evolve, and construction projects rarely go exactly according to plan. Changes happen in the field all the time, and those changes often require coordination between the contractor, architect, and jurisdiction before moving forward.

That’s one of the reasons keeping the architect involved throughout construction has become increasingly important, especially in a rapidly growing area like the Treasure Valley.

I’ve always been more interested in buildings that begin with clean geometry, sensible use of space, and materials that ...
05/20/2026

I’ve always been more interested in buildings that begin with clean geometry, sensible use of space, and materials that honestly express what they’re actually doing structurally within the building.

When I design with concrete, I usually want the concrete exposed. Same with steel and wood. I think there’s something timeless about allowing materials to simply be what they are instead of covering them up behind layers of unnecessary finishes or ornamentation.

That idea of structural honesty has influenced the way I think about architecture for a long time, especially in residential design where the goal isn’t just visual impact, but creating spaces that feel clear, functional, and lasting over time.

05/13/2026

AI is a useful tool in architecture, especially when it comes to visualization.

We’re using it to speed up renderings that used to take a significant amount of time to produce. On this project, we started with a basic Revit model and used AI to push it further visually, adding people, design elements, and context to better communicate the space.

What used to take around 40 hours can now be done in closer to one.

At the same time, AI isn’t doing the role of the architect.

It’s not responsible for code compliance, it’s not thinking through how a building needs to function on a specific site, and it’s not making sure the design aligns with what the client actually needs.

It’s a powerful tool, but it’s still just a tool.

The Treasure Valley Beach construction is complete and now in full operation, including beer and wine service to accompa...
05/07/2026

The Treasure Valley Beach construction is complete and now in full operation, including beer and wine service to accompany weekly adult beach volleyball league games.

TVBeach is an indoor beach volleyball facility in Meridian and a sister facility to the Treasure Valley Athletic Center, which houses indoor volleyball. Both facilities are used for training, camps, parties, and leagues.

The TVBeach facility includes a viewing area, concession stand, and an upstairs weight training room, with plans to incorporate physical therapy.

Designed in 2024 and built in 2025, construction was completed in February 2026 with an overall project cost just under $2M. The total building area is 14,000 SF, with 9,000 SF dedicated to three regulation indoor beach volleyball courts.

04/29/2026

How much does it cost to build a house, addition, or ADU today?

Construction costs have changed significantly over the last 20 years.

In today’s market, a new build can range from $300–$400 per square foot for a base-level project.

Additions and remodels don’t necessarily cost less per square foot, because integrating new construction with an existing structure often adds complexity, not savings.

For example:
A garage with a second-story ADU can easily fall in the $250,000–$300,000 range, depending on scope, systems, and site conditions.

This is where projects begin to break down.
What people expect to spend and what it actually costs are often two very different numbers.

Planning a project in Boise or the Treasure Valley? Start with current numbers, not outdated ones.

I just recently finished my stint on the North End Neighborhood Association board, and as President. It felt good to see...
11/05/2025

I just recently finished my stint on the North End Neighborhood Association board, and as President. It felt good to see my term through, and leave with a strong board. For the sake of my family & my clients, I do solemnly swear I will just try to stick to basic volunteerism for at least the next year.

From music school to coffee shop.This 600 SF space on the Boise Bench was reimagined through adaptive reuse into Primal ...
08/01/2025

From music school to coffee shop.

This 600 SF space on the Boise Bench was reimagined through adaptive reuse into Primal Coffee, a warm and grounded coffee house and community favorite.

is known for its wood-roasted, organic, and fair-trade coffee, all roasted locally.

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