A lot of architects grew up with Legos and always knew they’d be architects. I came to it more through art.
Joe Filippelli, North House Architects
“A lot of architects grew up with Legos and always knew they’d be architects. I came to it more through art. I grew up drawing, illustrating, reading a lot of Calvin and Hobbes—I thought I’d be a graphic designer or maybe a comic illustrator.
Then I took a shop class in high school. It was a small rural school, but the Industrial Technology program was strong. For the first time, we were designing, drawing, and actually building. That’s where art and science came together for me.
I originally enrolled in graphic design for college but switched to architecture last minute—no idea why. My undergrad was more of a drafting and construction tech program than a design one. But I got an internship with an architect in Flushing, Michigan, who showed me what architecture could really be: a creative and technical balance. She helped me get on a better academic path.
After undergrad, I worked in commercial architecture on Michigan’s east side. It was solid, process-driven work—not flashy design. Around 2008, when the economy was faltering, I went back for my master’s at U of M. That opened me up to new ideas, styles, and people. After graduating, I landed a job at a great design firm in Seattle. My wife and I moved there and had our first daughter. We loved Seattle, but the distance from family and high cost of living were tough. So we looked at moving back to the Midwest. She’s from Michigan, I’m from Ohio—we landed in West Michigan, drawn by the landscape and economy.
She got a job in Ravenna, and I started at a small firm in Zeeland. After a year, I launched North House in early 2020. My goal wasn’t to replicate Seattle architecture here, but to bring the high design principles I learned there into a place that’s a bit off the radar. We specialize in warm, modern architecture using natural materials—soulful modernism. Michigan’s lumber history and landscape give us a unique material palette. Even though the style is different, it feels rooted here.
There was a clear gap in the market. I didn’t plan it strategically, but it turns out there’s just enough demand and not much competition. There are two of us in office and one remote employee. I like the scale—we can focus on two or three thoughtful projects at a time.
Growing bigger means becoming a salesperson, managing instead of just designing. Staying small lets us focus on what matters. Saying ‘no’ has defined our practice more than what we’ve said ‘yes’ to. There are ambitions to grow—we’d love to eventually do more commercial work for broader community impact. I’d love to eventually do a project downtown—that time will come, and I’m excited for it, but our focus has paid off so far.
There’s something about the landscape and culture here that aligns with how we work. A project in Grand Haven we’re photographing this summer really feels like it belongs—it’s different, but sensitive and cohesive.
Our goal is to create beautiful buildings that enhance what’s already there. West Michigan is still under the radar, but I think people will catch on. We got here before that shift, and through our work, we help reveal why this place is special.”
