ThoughtCraft’s work relies on both rigor and collaboration. The interior of one of ThoughtCraft’s award-winning modernist homes PHOTO BY: MARK HERBOTH
Chris Johns and Jason Hart founded ThoughtCraft Architects (thoughtcraftarchitects.com) 15 years ago, but their relationship goes back decades before. The two met as teenagers in Florida and were college roommates before both moving to New England to attend MIT. In their early professional years, they worked for well-known firms before deciding to join forces. Even Hart’s move to North Carolina in 2012 didn’t shake their solid partnership, but in fact, strengthened it. “Practicing in different places gives us a diversity of knowledge, whether working on a city dwelling or a coastal home, we’ve touched it all. We balance technology and the ability to work in a remote, collaborative way while giving clients a very hands-on, personal experience,” says Johns.
The home’s exterior.
The staff works on projects regardless of location through a culture and processes that prioritize teamwork. “It’s not one mind that does all the design. It’s a very collective, iterative process both internally and with our clients,” says Hart. “Our team has a more wide-ranging perspective on how to approach design, whether it’s from one location or the other. There’s always a cross-pollination that happens and fresh ideas brought to the table,” adds Johns. When a client hires ThoughtCraft, they’re truly hiring a team of many minds and hands at work behind the scenes who weigh in, offer constructive criticism and act as a sounding board to ensure collaboration that elevates the work.
The ThoughtCraft team
Currently, ThoughtCraft is a firm of 10, six of whom are licensed architects with the others pursuing licensure. Their experience and skill sets enable a diverse portfolio that includes everything from residential to large-scale urban housing, mixed-use projects to universities and historic preservation. “We bring a greater knowledge of materials and ways of doing things and we’re always looking at what’s at the forefront of design,” says Hart. Beginning with an extensive onboarding process, ThoughtCraft develops a deep understanding of the client’s lifestyle, objectives and the property itself. They spend a lot of time on the land understanding the site and the key features that need to be highlighted, marrying that with what the home will eventually be. Employing a rigorous design and discovery process, ThoughtCraft utilizes analog and high-tech tools. “We’re not flying by the seat of our pants to come up with this beautiful thing we’ve imagined. There are many touchpoints, small steps and coordination,” says Johns. Both men agree that “rather than seeking a fixed and final interpretation of our work, we embrace the evolution of our design ethos.”
