The art of architecture is a lifestyle. It’s more than composing detailed home drawings and crafting bespoke residences. It’s a daily quest for beauty. It’s exercising our creative muscles in every activity we undertake. As we head outside and savor the Pacific Northwest summer, whether from the vantage of our backyards or someplace far removed from our normal scenery, we savor the views that reinvigorate our concept of beauty. We look for home design inspiration in nature.

“Architecture is an art, and like artists, architects draw their inspiration from the complex and harmonious world that surrounds us.” – Iulia Codoban

Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl Job Captain Iulia Codoban has spent much of the summer breathing in the Pacific Northwest’s unparalleled natural beauty.

“During my hikes and outdoor exploration, I get the chance to observe and be part of the amazing scenery and natural landscape specific to the Pacific Northwest,” Iulia reflects. She specifically looks for the impact of light on the landscape.

Light in Landscape

Light is a crucial part of architecture. “As I hike,” she says, “it is amazing to observe how the color and intensity of light in the Pacific Northwest can vary according to the time of the day, the weather conditions, and the seasons.” During a day hike, Iulia enjoys the way in which the soft light of the morning evolves into the harsh, intense light of midday and then gives way to the golden tones of evening.

Seasons, too, shape light. Summer light is intense, while the autumn light is gentler. When designing a building, especially a home, it’s important to recognize how these changes in light can affect the way in which a structure is perceived. As we observe in nature, light dramatizes or softens, exposes or hides design elements. It creates moods and shapes the experience a home provides.

As you explore our region this summer, watch for the ways light plays with the landscape, and consider which seasons, angles, and times of day pique your interest and inspire your curiosity.

Here are a few more scenic photographs that have offered home design inspiration to Iulia.