About Hufft

Who We Are

Hufft is an architecture, interior design and fabrication studio with offices in Kansas City, Mo., and Bentonville, Ark. We strive to bring meaning to everyday life through work that strengthens the connection between people and place. Hufft was founded on the belief that an open dialogue between designers and builders leads to innovative design and projects that are ultimately more valuable for the people they serve. Throughout our history, we have developed a rigorous approach to design that seeks to identify, understand and use our client’s biggest challenges as a catalyst for innovation.

From our roots in residential design, Hufft has built an expanding portfolio of commercial, institutional and hospitality work. Today, we are a nationally-recognized, award-winning design firm that employs an interdisciplinary staff of architects, interior designers, artists and craftsmen. Our studio is organized to foster multi-disciplinary collaboration that expands traditional notions of the architectural practice, seamlessly integrating designers and craftsmen.

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People, Places, Concept

We work in diverse locations, across a broad range of project types and scales. However, we approach each project through a consistent framework: People, Places, and Concept. This simple structure negotiates the complex relationships between building and site, program and budget, users and the environment into a cohesive whole that transcends mere problem-solving. This approach is tailored to the needs of each project, helping our clients identify and realize their goals and aspirations, while simultaneously uncovering the specific characteristics that make each project unique.

People

Buildings play an integral role in creating strong human connections. We believe that all people deserve access to well designed, healthy, and inspiring environments that are specific to the needs and values of their community.

Starting with a deep understanding of client, community, culture, and program, this human-centered approach drives the physical development of our projects. The result are buildings that are appropriately scaled and spaces that are comfortable and delightful. Our focus on people considers all scales, from planning to developing details that are functional, elegant and playful, bringing utility and joy to the people who use them.

We consider how people interact with buildings at all scales, from site planning to the details and interiors we use every day. Stair railings, door handles, tabletops, material connections…these elements bring richness to everyday experiences. The result are details that are elegant and playful, bringing utility and joy to the people who use them.

Places

We believe that buildings have a unique ability to strengthen the connection between people and the landscape, creating a sense of place that adds to our collective identity. Our approach explores the distinct characteristics of a place, highlighting the uniqueness of a geographic region, or the beauty of a specific view. From rural sites to urban environments, a thoughtful choreography between building and context creates meaningful, connected experiences between people and places.

We strive to make buildings that are not only culturally, but environmentally sensitive by responsibility utilizing our natural resources and thoughtfully considering the impact each project has on the environment.

Concept

Our process brings the exploration of people and places into a cohesive, meaningful concept for each project. This concept gives the project clarity and establishes a formal and material logic that drives design decisions, from organizing principles to details and connections. The concept for a project is informed by a collaborative exchange of ideas between the client, architect and builder.

The concept is the catalyst for design. Leading to the innovative use of form, materials, color, texture and pattern to create rich and unexpected environments that bring joy to the people who use them.

At the core of this process is exploring the potential of digital design and fabrication. We utilize a range of design tools, both analog and digital, 2 and 3 dimensional. Project concepts are explored in 3D massing studies, computer-generated environmental analysis programs and simple hand drawings and sketches. This allows us to test multiple concepts, at varying scales, uncovering unique formal, spatial and programmatic relationships of a given project.