April 2013
| Business World Magazine | 113
those offerings seemingly suggests that there
is not a signature style per se, and Smith ac-
knowledges this is largely due to the fact that
each project is a result of client needs, bud-
get, and parameters governed, once again, by
the environment and function relative to the
finished product. The ultimate signature of
the Altius style would be evidenced by ar-
chitecture that conforms to landscape, that
imparts subtle sophistication which is more
reserved than grandstanding, that often ad-
heres to standards which even exceed that
of the firm’s LEED certification, and quality
materials congruent with the client’s depen-
dency on comfort and convenience.
FORM & FUNCTION
In that function plays such an important
role in building, Altius Architecture wields
critical expertise in creating that which can
function at high performance. Smith offers
an analogy: “If you want a high performance
car, you’re not going to go spec a Model T.
That car may look historic, but it is not very
practical if you want decent fuel economy or
want to drive a 100 miles an hour. Design-
ing a home is like that too. Some people have
dual climate control in their cars, but not in
their home, and that’s an absurd statement,”
he says.
Building today benefits from advance-
ments in science, technology and new ma-
terials which enable architects to draw from
an array of resources that are both afford-
able and practical in terms of sustainable liv-
ing. Altius benefits from having both classic
understanding of construction and insight
into so many of the advancements that of-
fer enhancement to the home environment.
By integrating smart technology that helps
