Business Details
35 Years
experience
Your Trusted Architectural Design Partner in Seattle
Greif Architects has been dedicated to creating meaningful architectural spaces since 1991. Our practice combines artistic vision with practical execution, focusing on residential, commercial, and institutional projects that harmonize with their natural surroundings. We prioritize collaboration with clients, builders, and artisans to ensure designs reflect individual needs while honoring site-specific contexts. Our team brings decades of collective experience, rooted in a family legacy of builders and architects, to deliver spaces that nourish both people and the environment. We emphasize transparency and education through our proprietary process guide, which helps clients navigate architectural planning efficiently. By integrating interior and exterior design, we maintain continuity throughout every project phase, from initial consultation to construction completion.Our commitment to quality extends to selecting trusted contractors and materials that align with our clients' values and aesthetic goals. With projects spanning diverse regions, we adapt our approach to local landscapes while maintaining a consistent focus on sustainability and functionality. Our philosophy centers on architecture as an essential art form that shapes human experiences and strengthens connections to the natural world. Through this holistic approach, we strive to create enduring spaces that celebrate the interplay of light, air, gravity, and time in everyday life.
Services
Residential Architecture
Commercial Architecture
Institutional Architecture
Interior Design
Construction Administration
Waldorf School Design
Feng Shui Integration
Transformative Architecture
Design Consultation
Process Guidance Book
Details
- Year established: 1991
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of architectural design experience since 1991
- Our collaborative approach involves clients throughout the design process
- We integrate natural elements into every architectural solution
- Our proprietary planning guide streamlines project execution
- We maintain continuity through full-service design and construction oversight
Services
Residential Architecture
We create custom residential spaces that harmonize with their natural surroundings while meeting specific client needs. Our approach integrates site-specific elements with functional living requirements. Each project emphasizes sustainability, natural light integration, and connection to the surrounding landscape through thoughtful spatial planning.
Commercial Architecture
Our commercial architecture focuses on creating functional business environments that reflect brand identity while optimizing workflow efficiency. We design spaces that balance aesthetic appeal with practical requirements for various commercial operations. Each project incorporates sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems to reduce environmental impact.
Institutional Architecture
We specialize in designing institutional spaces that serve community needs while maintaining architectural integrity. Our approach creates functional public spaces that inspire and support educational, cultural, or civic purposes. Each design considers long-term usability and accessibility requirements for institutional settings.
Interior Design
Our interior design services ensure continuity between exterior architecture and interior spaces. We focus on creating functional layouts that enhance the building's purpose while maintaining aesthetic cohesion. The process includes material selection, lighting design, and custom fixture specification to achieve integrated interior environments.
Construction Administration
We provide comprehensive construction administration services to ensure design intent is maintained throughout the building process. Our oversight includes contractor coordination, quality control checks, and budget management. We work with trusted regional builders to deliver projects that meet design specifications and client expectations.
People
Joseph Greif
Principal
Joseph Greif brings decades of architectural experience rooted in a family legacy of builders. Born in Germany and raised in Idaho, his designs reflect a deep understanding of construction processes and natural environments. He focuses on creating spaces that harmonize with their surroundings while meeting client needs.
Cynthia Nolting-Greif
Principal
Cynthia Nolting-Greif specializes in translating client visions into architectural reality. With experience across multiple US states and international projects, she emphasizes intuitive design solutions that balance creativity with practical execution. Her background includes work with renowned Northwest architect Ralph Anderson.
Questions
What architectural services do you specialize in?
We specialize in residential, commercial, and institutional architecture with a focus on integrating natural elements into functional designs.
How long has your firm been operating?
Greif Architects | Living Architecture has been creating architectural solutions since 1991, with over 30 years of professional experience.
What regions do you serve?
We work on projects across the Pacific Northwest and have completed commissions in Alaska, Hawaii, Minnesota, and Austria.
What design philosophy guides your work?
Our philosophy emphasizes architecture as a mediator between nature and human experience, incorporating light, air, gravity, and time into every design.
Do you handle both design and construction phases?
Yes, we offer full-service design and construction administration, maintaining continuity from concept through project completion.
