Hagen Architecture

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

This residential project is being completed in two phases.Phase 1, shown here, includes the front addition. Phase 2 is u...
08/26/2026

This residential project is being completed in two phases.

Phase 1, shown here, includes the front addition. Phase 2 is underway at the rear of the home.

The site presented several design challenges, including its location at the end of a cul-de-sac, adjacency to wildlands, hillside conditions, and neighboring properties. Each of these factors required careful consideration throughout the design process, particularly in meeting Wildland Urban Interface requirements.

The homeowner is also serving as the contractor, bringing the project from design through construction in phases.

We’re looking forward to seeing the next stage take shape.

 

08/19/2026

Architecture teaches the value of thinking ahead and getting started early.

Every project begins with months of planning before a single wall goes up: drawings, code research, permitting, and coordination. What feels like slow progress is what allows the rest of the project to move forward with fewer surprises.

Most things worth doing take time, and the ones that really matter usually take longer than we'd like.

I've come to see this as more than a professional practice. It's a principle for living. The time you spend planning is rarely wasted. More often than not, it's what keeps you from having to do it all over again.

07/08/2026

Adding a second story can be a great way to gain additional living space while keeping the footprint of your home the same.

What many homeowners don't realize is that the existing structure plays a major role in determining what's possible. Framing, foundations, footings, and structural loads all need to be evaluated before moving forward with design.

Understanding those conditions early helps identify opportunities, constraints, and the best path forward for your project.

Whether you're considering a second story addition, converting an attic into living space, or exploring ways to add square footage to your home, a structural evaluation is often one of the first steps.

If you're a homeowner in Boise or the Treasure Valley exploring ways to add more space to your home, reach out. We'd be happy to discuss your goals and help you understand what's possible.

Last year, we had the opportunity to work with DK Donuts on opening their second location.A Boise favorite for years, DK...
07/01/2026

Last year, we had the opportunity to work with DK Donuts on opening their second location.

A Boise favorite for years, DK Donuts expanded into Nampa with the transformation of a 2,400-square-foot corner commercial space into a new donut shop, creating a welcoming place for customers to gather in the heart of downtown.

These photos are from the grand opening, where the community showed up in full force for free donuts and a warm welcome.

This project was a collaborative effort with Bondar Brothers and Empowering Engineering, and we're grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such a talented team.

Congratulations to DK Donuts on a successful first year in Nampa.

06/24/2026

A recent piece of Idaho legislation has sparked discussion within the design and construction industry.

At the heart of the conversation is a question about professional roles, responsibility, licensure, and who should be authorized to prepare and submit certain documents for permitting.

As an architect, I have my own perspective on the issue, informed by decades of experience working through code requirements, permitting, construction administration, and coordination with consultants, contractors, and jurisdictions.

This isn’t a conversation about whether interior designers add value. They do. I’ve worked with many talented interior designers throughout my career.

The conversation is about where professional responsibilities begin and end, and what those distinctions mean for project teams, public safety, and the built environment.

I’d be interested to hear how others in the industry are thinking about it.

What are your thoughts?

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.

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