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Please join me in congratulating Tom Devine as Partner Emeritus of Housing Design Matters.

Tom has been an incredible design asset to Housing Design Matters for the past ten plus years. In this new role, Tom will still be contributing great designs but at a slightly reduced volume. He will be balancing his time with family and perhaps a cruise around the world. Okay – maybe that’s a stretch but we hope he will be enjoying having more time off!

You can still reach Tom at his Housing Design Matters email address and phone number.

We thought this would be a good time to ask Tom about his career in architecture and the housing industry as a whole.

1. What first drew you to architecture?

Actually, I love this story as it was just by chance. I spent high school and my first year in college focusing on a career in medicine. When I knew this wasn’t going to be, I needed help finding a new direction. I went to the school placement office for help. They pointed me to a filing cabinet that contained a synopsis of each major and their career opportunities. I started with the A’s, got to Architecture and thought, “This could work.” It turned out to be one of the best choices I’ve ever made.

2. Who or what most influenced your career path?

One of my first professors at UF was a very talented local architect named Ron Haase. He focused on housing and I was enamored with the stories of his designs and the connections between the client’s needs, his design concept, concerns of site design, material and style choices, and the subsequent construction. He was the first to put all of the pieces together for me.

3. How has your approach to architecture evolved over the course of your career?

The biggest change has been my involvement with HDM. I’ve spent most of my career on the corporate side of the fence by hiring and guiding outside design firms (that’s how I met Deryl many moons ago). Now I’m on the service side of the business. I do love the diversity of clients but miss seeing a project through to opening for sales.

4. What project, home, or moment from your career stands out most to you?

Really, there are too many to mention. I’m just happy I was able to keep up.

5. What advice would you give to someone considering a career in architecture today?

The best thing for me was to take a year off between undergraduate and graduate school to work in the business. You are very quick to find out how much you really don’t know.

6. What part of the design process do you enjoy most?

I mostly enjoy the challenge. For me, design is really just problem solving. You have to weigh in the needs of the market while balancing the input from the client’s team including purchasing, sales, and construction to come up with a solution that makes everyone happy.

7. What is your favorite architectural style?

I guess I was brought up with the principle of form follows function. Every piece has a reason, and they all support the intended purpose. Frank Lloyd Wright’s work is a great example of what that means. I’ve also always enjoyed the Arts and Crafts movement just for the sheer beauty of the detailing.

8. Which decade do you think gave us the worst architecture?

That’s a hard question as I think there have flaws and successes if every decade. It all depends on the skill of the designer.

9. What do you wish would change in the housing industry?

While I think housing has continued to evolve for the positive, the biggest challenge is cost. It’s a hard thing to change, but we need to continue to push for efficiency of design.

10. Where do you see residential architecture heading in the next 10 years?

Styles and trends will continue to change year after year as they always have. As natural resources continue to dwindle though, the industry should continue to look for alternatives. My biggest curiosity is how AI will influence the industry.

11. As your role evolves, what are you looking forward to having more time for outside of work?

Like most, I would say travel. I traveled a good part of my career. It will be nice to have a little company this time.

12. What do you hope to continue contributing in this next chapter?

Honestly, I’m not sure about this whole next chapter thing. However, whatever it is, I hope it’s an adventure.