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the kitchens in those spec homes at night and on weekends. “I can spend all day at my desk here, but tonight, I’ll spend three hours working with my hands. That allows me to not go insane,” he says. It’s not just his breadth and prolificacy that make him one to watch; his values are in the right place, too. No project is above or beneath him—he approaches all design, whatever the scale or budget, with the same vim and vigor. To further hone his craft, Templeton started developing sustainably designed spec homes on the side five years ago. “My goal wasn’t to set out to make money. It was more of an experiment,” Templeton says. “I wanted to build a house that would still be here in 100 years.” His high-design houses are triple insulated and made with as many reclaimed and made-inAmerica products as possible. All six, to date, have found a buyer within a week. And this year, in recognition of his commitment to green design, one of his projects won the AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Award. One wonders what he will do next—and where he finds the time for it all. For his energy, at least, he credits his overworked college days: “I’m used to a few hours of sleep a night.” h
In his first spec house, in Northeast Portland (minimalist to the point of looking like a graphic icon of a house), Templeton built the kitchen and all the doors, cabinets, bookshelves, and built-ins. “The simple form allowed for money to be spent on materials and a rigorous floor plan that uses every square inch,” he says.
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GRAY ISSUE No. NINETEEN