Josh Architects is an architecture and interior design firm combining a passion for craftsmanship with the design of smarter, refreshing custom homes for families looking to enrich life through a creative approach to design and construction in the Seattle and Tampa areas. We are your concierge to design your home, your counsel to get it built, and your advocate to work through regulatory limitations.
About
Picture a client, an architect, and several builders meeting on a job site. Arms are crossed. Expressions pensive. Deep in conversation. The topic at hand is the tricky intersection of the top of a cabinet and a ceiling beam. No amount of talking or sketching can properly convey the problem or produce a solution. It’s a true pickle.
While the builders continue to talk, the architect spots a compound miter saw and some scrap molding. He walks over, crouches down, cuts out a couple pieces, and demonstrates exactly how the intersection works to the group. A solution is swiftly born. His liability insurance agent would cringe, but he cares more about effective communication and producing solutions.
“Solve real problems - not fake ones. Design shouldn’t create new problems.”
“Like hammers, saws, and drills, drawings are just a tool.”
This story is one of many involving architect, Josh Brincko, getting his hands dirty to get the job done – and done incredibly well. Creative solutions and fine details are his thing. The perfect material. A beautiful finish. Fine craftsmanship. Josh’s eye for details is unmatched and his ability to find solutions for the seemingly impossible is almost uncanny – both traits he receives frequent praise for.
“I usually already have on my coat when I’m ready to leave because when I first arrive, I’m typically way too interested in what I’m doing to remember to take it off. ”
Josh is passionate about and experienced with construction, furniture building and other hands-on trades. Drawing upon that experience, he bridges the gap between the theory of a drawing and the practicality of construction. He knows you’re in need of a nicely built project, and drawings are only one of the tools to help you get there. He thrives on a job site because this is where the planning process really comes to life – in the hands of the tradesmen who are experts in their craft. Able to speak their language and understand their process, he works carefully with the craftsmen to ensure the best possible solution is developed as it transitions from mere ideas on paper to extraordinary spaces.
“I make my client’s problems my own problems. I make myself available to create solutions.”
On top of it all, he is able to accomplish tasks with high levels of quality in the same amount of time that would normally take a large team. It’s truly amazing. The man never stops. Outside of work, he is renovating his mid-century modern home, bakes bread, gardens and assists his pro photographer wife.
“I woke up at 5am every weekend for almost a year to help a friend build a cabin. I did that for fun.”
Meet Our Team
The coolest kids around! (Laura not pictured)
This is what things are like for now:)
Josh
Coming to the Pacific Northwest from the rust belt in Ohio, he brings a refreshing balance of practical directness and efficiency to the innovative, out-of-the-box thinking he has gained from working with many award winning architects over the past 20 years. He is also quite experienced doing construction and prefers working on a jobsite to being cooped up at a desk since he excels in offering exciting and cost-saving feedback during construction meetings. He graduated with his bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture from Kent State University, and he also taught college design courses for over 10 years where he preached what he practiced. He has won design awards in architecture and furniture design, and he can sort of speak Spanish and Italian. He a nationally licensed coach through US Soccer and is a past President of The Seattle Executives Association. He can kind of surf too. He is known for making a great pizza and artisan bread which can be seen at www.josharch.com/bread
Callie
She relocated to Seattle from Nevada where she had the unlucky opportunity to have Josh as her professor in several design courses. She excelled with her creative and technical skills and earned a position as an intern with Josh where she played a major role in designing a large project for the Salvation Army. She has also gained further experience designing high end hospitality projects before joining Josh again to focus on residential projects. Callie is, by far, the most professional member of the team, and Josh is hoping she will someday teach him to be just as professional.
Shinead
You know those tasks you just can't motivate yourself to do? (The ones that just pile up and you hope a magic elf would finish for you.) This is where Shinead comes in, and she actually enjoys doing these things (and does them better than anyone). He name is pronounced Shine-Aid. She is a well rounded member of the team making sure everyone has what they need at all times. This includes marketing, keeping the books, tax reporting, form work, printing, etc. You name it, and she has a part in it. She even does the things you didn't even know needed to be done. She is recently marriend, and loving every minute of it as she explores the Pacific Northwest with her husband.
Erin
With a background in interiors and product sales, she brings a nice perspective to our practice. Erin was a previous student of Josh's where she excelled in her coursework. She is very easy to work with, a quick learner, and she also has a great sense of humor with her assortment of hoodies. She even has an Ohio State hoodie since her dad is not a fan of the Buckeyes. Gotta love that family dynamic.
Carolyn
Carolyn came to Josh Architects with extensive experience in the hospitality industry focusing on high end interior environments. She applies the same skill to our residential projects bringing everything up a notch (or 3). When not caring for our clients, she enjoys time away from the city caring for her large property with chickens and tons of open space (and tons of chores!) with her husband. To make her even more of a superstar, one of our clients had a baby, so she knitted a blanket (IN UNDER A WEEK)!
Laura
Laura is the mastermind behind our community outreach endeavors and supports the needs of our whole team as she helps us to connect all the dots. Her work is mostly behind the scenes, so she's not as visible as everyone else. If you'd like to catch her, take a trapeze class, and actually maybe she will catch YOU since she's also a trapeze coach!
Love
Love. What a cool name. Ok, it's her middle name, but, come on... with a name like that, you gotta love it! She was one of Josh's students in a past life, and after relocating across the country, she became one of crew members on the existing drawing team when she's not chasing around her awesome daughter:)
Al
Also brought up in Ohio and graduating from Kent State University like Josh with a bachelor's in architecture, master's in architecture, and master's in business, Al is a well-rounded and very thorough member of the team. His experiences working on large-scale projects and living throughout the US as well as Italy, Peru, and Chile enable him to approach design with a unique world view, and his technical understanding of materials and design process make him a gift to have on any project. Al could also lift Josh over his head without even trying. He is currently on a semi-sabbatical sailing across the Atlantic.
Marc
Marc is from Reno, Nevada, and he graduated from Kent State University in Ohio with Josh earning his bachelor's in architecture and a master's in architecture. Marc is an expert in commercial design, and he has a particular focus on hospitality, multi-family residential, and casino design. He is as upbeat and awesome as they come, and he is phased by no project, no person, and no problem. Marc is exactly the kind of guy you want to be around in any challenge that life throws at you.
Heather
She is on some other wavelength. Her creative capacity to see things that others cannot is her true talent which she pairs with her experience in web marketing, business development, and photography. She is a nifty balance between a computer nerd and a free spirit. This enables her to come up with an innovative plan and also put it into practice. She can distill technical information into a presentable format that anyone could understand. She has been the maid-of-honor in four different weddings. She also likes painting, running, and allowing Josh to be married to her.
Kim
As the retired CEO of Filter Digital with degrees in communications design and graphics and packaging design, Kim is an amazingly experienced creative and business asset to the Josh Architects Advisory Board. She has helped us understand that anything is possible while being a grounding force to ensure that those dreams can become reality as we develop our boutique design firm into an increasively productive corporation that is still perceived as a boutique studio.
Jake
We will not be modest on this one. Jake is an unassuming baddass, and he is a hero of heroes. He won't tell you this, but we feel honored to say it. In his past, Jake served our country as an elite Army Ranger Captain earning a Bronze Star for his heroic leadership as he lead hundreds of troops through hostile environments managing tens of millions of dollars worth of resources. He is a civil engineer and now works as a director managing construction projects worth tens of millions of dollars (which are also hostile environments in a different way). We are honored that he has our back as a member of our advisory board.
Joe
Jolly Papa Joe is a retired director of account and technology development from a major packaging coorporation. He understands processes and people, and his talents have helped us grow through his leadership on our advisory board. Helping others is simply what he does. Why is he Jolly Joe? Well, let's just leave it at this: he has a white beard, has a stocky build, has an affinity for wearing red, and he knows all about your behavior. Putting these skills to work is just one of the ways he helps children.
Karl
Structural engineering is one of those necessary tasks that needs done well - but not too well. Karl understands construction from doing it with his own two hands (which is rare for the professionals in the construction industry). This serves him very well when we consult with him to figure out how to keep our buildings safe. He does not over-engineer solutions. Instead, he instills his practical insight that complies with code requirements, that work with the industry preferences of builders, and he is willing to consider alternate approaches in the design of structural systems.
Brian
Although he is not a direct member of the team, we wouldn't exist without him. Brian is the CPA that keeps us compliant. He taught Josh the difference between gross and net. After working with larger firms, he started his own company to help small businesses such as Josh PS. He is extremely well-versed in tax and business related matters, and he makes it easy for us to be in business.
Larry
Larry is pure magic! He runs our books, advises on budgets, and gets us prepped for tax time. Hhe does this all with very little guidance and typically produces results faster than we even ask.
Matt
Matt is an associate to Josh Architects, and we help to run his construction projects. Matt has experience in all aspects of construction enabling him to quickly troubleshoot the integrations between complicated systems such as plumbing, electrical, and mechanical, and their relationships to structural framing, waterproofing, and project cost. He also has a knack for coordinating project sequencing to ensure the steps in the construction process enable the most efficient and effective path to the solution preventing re-work and loss of time. He is a high-level craftsman with a no-compromise attitude resulting in work of only the highest quality. Matt builds for a living, and he builds for fun too.
Ken
Ken is another associate to Josh Architects, and we help to run his construction projects to keep him going in the field. Ever since Ken left the world of leading the productions at some of Seattle’s largest coffee roasting brands, he has become a seasoned veteran in the construction industry. Feeding his talents of maintaining and setting up coffee equipment, he discovered he had a knack for building and began helping construction crews on the weekends building fences, rockeries, landscaping, and assisting masons. He eventually crossed paths with Matt Karlstrom, and worked with Matt for over seven years building high quality residences. This is where Ken was exposed to the world of building to a high level of detail, and he was naturally drawn to focus on exquisite construction as a career. He was eventually offered a foreman position for the high-end builder, Robert Kruze, and Ken excelled in running the job site, managing sub-contractors, framing, and doing finish work. He has a strong work ethic and is a loyal team member. For Ken, nothing is ever too big, too heavy, too tedious, or too difficult. If you can't find Ken, he's out snowboarding.
Shawn
Shawn is another associate to Josh Architects, and we help to run his construction projects to keep him going in the field as he supports Ken and Matt. Shawn brings years of construction experience in all aspects of the building process, and he later became a licensed electrician. His technical prowess enables him to figure out logistical nightmares in all different trades of construction. He has done it all before, and no problem is too challenging for him to creatively solve. He is such a valuable asset to us all with his immense knowledge of all things electrical. You cannot see electricity, but Shawn can make it do what you want it to do - that makes him a magician.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST:)
Holley
You know those tasks you just can't motivate yourself to do? (The ones that just pile up and you hope a magic elf would finish for you.) This must mean Holley is an elf. She was a well rounded member of the team and made making sure everyone has what they need at all times. In her spare time, she's keeping her kids on track and shooting photographs. We are so lucky to have found Holley.
Dawn
Dawn was one of Josh's former students, and she worked with a few interior designers before joining the Josh team. She is a calm, collected, reliable asset, and we can always count on her to pitch in wherever needed.
Christopher
Christopher was raised in Europe, later went to school in North Carolina, and now he is living his dream in the Pacific Northwest where he loves to hike and explore the outdoors. We think this is why he works so efficiently - get the work done, and get it done right, so you can hit the trails! Christopher is a joy to be around - and it's not just the cool accent:)
Julie
Julie is our special projects coordinator, and she supports many of the behind the scenes parts of our work - especially with keeping the permit processes going (aka pestering the building dept to get moving). She grew up across the street from Josh and has since lived in Pittsburgh, San Diego (twice), Texas, and Seattle (3 times). She is VERY organized, and she CAN see into your soul.
Shelby
Shelby is another rare Seattle native, and she actually grew up nearby where Josh lives in West Seattle. As a kid, she can remember fighting to preserve a particular historic property that is next to Josh’s residence (and is now owned by a builder we work with). Her mom is also a design professional, and that helped her to develop a lifelong passion that builds upon her previous experience in the furniture industry. Shelby endured Josh’s teachings when she was a student of his several years ago, and she now wears many hats as she designs homes, cares for her pets, and supports her husband’s dreams as he finishes college.
Reth
Consistent, reliable, and very experienced with construction drawings, drafting software, and CNC software, he makes everything easy - even when it is not easy at all. He is proud of his Cambodian heritage and relocated to Seattle from Southern California where he may have been a rapper. His previous experience with large scale project types is quite valuable in bringing big company organization to a boutique design firm. Reth can also catch more fish than you can without even trying and has perfected the art of cooking the bacon explosion.
Remy
This Florida International University graduate from the Master's in Architecture program brings versatility to his work with his personal interests in writing, furniture design/building, playing cello, and photography. He is also an avid gamer with a strong following of his online critiques of various games.
Erin S.
She took several courses with Josh while earning her Bachelor's degree, and she joined the team after several years of working in the staging industry. She is very skilled and articulate in her use of CAD software, and she is always ready for a new challenge. She loves spending time with her pup and her husband exploring the great outdoors. A very rare fact: she is actually from the pacific northwest - most people moved here from somewhere else much less awesome.
Brendan
After working with several architectural firms throughout the region, Brendan used his knowledge of drafting and design to pursue his passion with Josh Architects to focus on designing residential projects.
Jennifer
With a solid understanding of bookkeeping, a prompt and reliable work ethic, and the ability to learn and adapt to new processes as fast as we can make them, she is a truly key member of our support staff that keeps our office running. It is pure magic the way Jennifer is able to get the job done so precisely with so little direction given to her. Yes, she is magic.
Hong
She is truly a jack of all trades with a special eye for simple elegant design in all forms: graphics, products, interiors, and of course architecture. She helps Josh Architects in so many ways ranging from branding, to specifications, project design, and doing all the random things that come up from time to time. She is the definition of reliable.
Lisa
As an international student, Josh recognized her as a incredibly quick learner and also very professional in the way she conducted herself in the classroom. After enduring several design studios with Josh, she had the opportunity to do an internship where she designed a challenging project with massive concrete walls and steel structure.
Ester
Ester is extremely organized, communicative, and very detail-oriented. She was the top of her class, and she excelled in many different softwares. She is a versatile designer capable of designing interiors and whole buildings.
Jessica
Graduating among the top of her class, Jessica a job captain coordinating design drawings for many projects simultaneously with 100% precision and extreme expedience. She is an extremely easy-going individual and has helped Josh Architects grow into the design powerhouse that it is today.
Shannon
Shannon was one of the Josh Architects O.G.'s and was instrumental in the design of a substantial remodel of an apartment for a large non-profit.
Michelle
Michelle was also one of the Josh Architects O.G.'s and was instrumental in the design of a substantial remodel of an apartment for a large non-profit.
Vandy
Vandy was one of the Josh Architects O.G.'s and pitched in on many residential projects. One of them was particularly exceptional for its sustainable design. He has vast experience working in Asia on multi-use developments. He basically was in charge of designing entire cities which sort of makes him a mayor.
Yo-Yo
Yo-Yo was one of Josh's prior students and interned with Josh Architects. She had a special knack for doing renderings and could also somehow successfully complete tasks that nobody showed her how to do - sort of a magician!
