Our Philosophy

Randall Kipp Architecture is a full service Architectural Studio specializing in Residential and light Commercial designs. The design style is modern. The focus is on providing architecture that celebrates an open plan created with the use of simple materials. The work intentionally provides a transparency to the world around it. Often the buildings are situated on or near a body of water. The architecture strives to balance the organic world of water, sky, sand and trees with the build world of simple shapes and open volumes.

The Studio’s design philosophy includes a necessary passive approach to energy consumption with a thoughtful and imaginative consideration of technology and building materials that supports lower energy use. Building orientation, window placement, and artistic arrangement of roof structures and their overhangs can greatly impact a building's response to energy issues.

Sustainable building materials and equipment selection - either by the energy they consume in their manufacturing process, their reduced maintenance needs, or their transportation to the job site - all impact their possible selection as building materials.

Technology that reduces or eliminates a building's energy needs are always considered. Insulation type and location, LED lighting, geothermal HVAC, SIPS, PV Cells, and water reclamation systems by their necessity are part and parcel of our design approach.

Our mandate as designers is to provide the best architectural solution that satisfies the programmatic issues of space and context; wrapped around and infused with a spirit of art as a form giver. Art, as it relates to a building’s form, can take on many shapes. Art can be the play of light as it filters into a building. It can be the juxtaposition of materials chosen. Art can be the relationship of spaces and the volumes they create. Art can be the buildings physical structure of wood, steel, or concrete. It can be the inclusion of technology that defines the building.

For Architecture to be successful, the client’s needs must be met. The notion of building for building's sake will never provide satisfactory results. It is our belief that the best and only viable solution for successful architecture is to include the client as part of the design team; inviting them into the design dialogue as partners and providing them with an education about thoughtful and successful design.

Randall Kipp

Randall Kipp, Owner and Lead Architect, graduated from the University of Minnesota's School of Architecture and began his career in architecture. Since then, he has lent his expertise to more than 200 residential designs and remodels and commercial projects such as lighthouses, medical facilities, restaurants, museums, resorts, and fire stations.

Randall's practice has always been design-driven. We are selective about the kind of projects and clients he takes on. We look for relationships first, ones that are about the quality of design work and a consistent mission.

We live and work in the country; consequently our business model is different than those that practice in urban areas. We are keenly aware and sensitive to the Tidewater area. We understand the beauty of the Bay, the Rivers, and the Creeks that surround us. We are attentive and sensitive to the wildlife around us. That being said, our small town way of life doesn't hinder our potential for urban projects. Our work takes us as far north as New York City, as far south as St. Augustine, Florida, and as far west as Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Aside from the more native and natural components of the land we work on, and the water we work adjacent to, is the logical need to use materials that are protective of the environment and design that is sensitive to the workings of the earth. Randall Kipp Architecture strives to consider all of the passive solar opportunities that any building type can provide. The prevailing winds, and the building orientation can provide beautiful, lyrical answers to the most stubborn design projects. We consider it our job and mission to harmonize our work with the ground plane our buildings rest on.

The team Randall has assembled - not only in-house but the consultants we depend on every day - make Randall Kipp Architecture an ideal partner in the master planning and development of any contemporary residential or commercial project.

Click here to schedule a conversation with Randall.