FINNE Architects

Raised in the United States and Norway, Nils Finne established the award-winning FINNE Architects in Seattle in order to bring a Scandinavian understanding of craft and landscape to the Pacific Northwest.  Recognized as one of the best Seattle design firms by local magazines, the firm has practiced sustainable design for over twenty-five years, and completed modern, highly crafted homes and renovation projects in Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan,  Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Norway.

Dedicated to establishing a close personal relationship with each of his clients, Nils has chosen to keep his firm small. FINNE Architects comprises a staff between three and five people and takes on five to seven projects at a time, finishing about two each year. By limiting the number of projects, Nils is able to maintain the acute attention to detail and thorough realization of each home’s overall aesthetic that so distinguish his work.

In addition to architecture, Nils has been involved in the design and fabrication of more than 75 pieces of furniture, lighting and hardware, which are produced and marketed separately.  These custom pieces bring a unique feeling of modern craft to FINNE projects. By integrating the design of both exterior and interior spaces, Nils Finne is able to create warm, serene modern spaces, filled with soft natural light and beautiful materials.

FINNE projects have appeared in more than 75 books and magazines. In addition, the work currently is found on more than 400 design web sites, such as Contemporist, Moco Loco, Design Milk, Remodelista, Inhabitat, and Freshome. FINNE was recently honored with the Canadian Wood Council Award for the Mazama House.

Prior to founding FINNE Architects in 1990,  Nils was a Senior Associate at Richard Meier and Partners, and served as Project Architect for the $350 million Getty Museum, approximately one-third of the $1 billion Getty Center complex in Los Angeles.  Following undergraduate training at Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design, Nils received a Masters degree in Architecture from Harvard University in 1980.  Nils has been practicing sustainable design for over 25 years, and is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Every FINNE project reflects the idea of “smart sustainable” design.  Sustainable design is not simply creating a laundry-list of green materials; rather, it is creating enduring building form and construction with appropriate long life-cycle, low-energy consuming materials. If we consume less, but make sure that we do choose thoughtfully designed, well-crafted objects and environments, we are on the path to a sustainable future.