About Us
Our Name
Rowen Architecture was inspired by the agricultural concept of a rowen field, wherein a single planting produces two harvests. We believe that the investment we make in each client and each project has the potential to produce two distinct, beautiful, interrelated outcomes.
One “harvest” embodies the tangible nature of excellent architecture. This involves the functionality of a space that uniquely supports how a family operates; the composition of finishes and intentionality of craftsmanship that speak to the quality of a place; the materials, orientation, and building science that can honor the environment and benefit individual health; the beauty of light, nature, texture and color; and the exterior forms that engage with the community and contribute to the vernacular sense of place.
The other “harvest” is intangible, one of authentic relationships. This outcome encompasses the value of thoughtful questions and intentional listening to deeply understand each aspect of a project; the ability to share a sense of belonging, value, and feeling known with each client; the unity that is fostered by a collaborative process between owner, architect, engineers, and craftsmen; the interwoven nature of individual, family, and community; and the way our lives display our values.
Who We Are
Jason’s story begins in the context of relationships. He is a son, husband, father, brother, and friend. His wife Michelle is the most important person in his life. She is his better half, best friend, partner in adventure, and greatest support. They have three beautiful daughters; four-year-old, Adalyn, who can bring a little sunshine, and chaos, to any situation; Nora her bubbly two-year-old accomplice; and baby Eliza who is just along for the ride. Some of the things they love include the acceleration of a motorcycle, the weightlessness of a snowboard through freshly-fallen snow, Thai food and board games, stalking in on a bull elk in rut, the winding downhills on a mountain bike, and ice cream.
Jason loves architecture because of the dynamic range of experiences that the built environment offers. It can make you feel secure and intimate, serene and restful, or inspired and transcendent. It can quiet the soul or invigorate the senses. Architecture has the ability to shape how we experience life. He is especially passionate about designing homes because it fuses the crafting of an experience within the context of relationship. Homes are the most personal and foundational environment of our lives. They are our origin. They are intimate, relational, comfortable and practical. They support our values, encourage our lifestyles, and mirror our personalities. Homes are as unique as the individuals that dwell in them - a visible expression of the invisible.
The last thirty-five years have given him an appreciation for the depth and diversity of life. They have shown him that words cannot describe the intense joys and incredible sorrows of the human experience. And they have revealed that our stories are all unique and yet we each have a point of connection because each person’s story is part of a much greater narrative.
Jason has his Bachelors and Masters degrees in architecture from Judson University in Chicago, and has practiced architecture in the midwest, Montana, and across Southeast Asia. He has worked on over sixty homes throughout his decade-long career, and is a licensed architect in the State of Montana.
Patrick joined Rowen Architecture in the spring of 2023. During his 10+ years practicing architecture, he has had the pleasure of working with the award-winning firms Lake Flato Architects in San Antonio, TX and Cutler Anderson Architects on Bainbridge Island, WA. His career has encompassed a variety of project scales, types, and budgets. With this breadth of experience, he brings an ability to listen intently and understand clients holistically that he believes is vital to achieving high-quality, beautiful buildings.
Patrick is passionate about fostering the human connection to nature through thoughtful and intentional architecture. He has been studying and implementing biophilic design, ‘green-design’, and high-performance building science for over a decade. His work to date fits underneath the umbrella of ‘Regional Modernism’, and places an emphasis on tailoring honest and expressive buildings to each project’s landscape. Patrick values healthy indoor spaces that are uplifting and nurturing. He appreciates producing highly-detailed, yet simple architectural designs.
When not working, Patrick spends his time with his wife, Kelsey, and their 2-year-old son, Ezra. They enjoy backpacking, snowshoeing, gardening, and making music together. As a lifelong learner and tinkerer, Patrick loves exploring new ideas and developing new skills. His latest interests are permaculture, forestry, and homesteading.
Patrick has his Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design degrees from the University of Houston. He is currently a licensed architect in the State of Montana and holds a LEED BD+C credential.
Our Process
1 | The Fit
We are an architecture studio that accepts a select number of projects each year to ensure that we give each client our best. This means that we try to confirm if we are the right fit for you from the very first phone call. We want to make sure that our personalities and intentions are aligned so that we’ll enjoy working together throughout this collaborative process.
2 | Initial Meetings
Our goal is to understand who you are, how you live, what you value, and what your requirements are for the project. We’ve found that getting a wholistic understanding of these things usually takes about two meetings, but they are full of vision and excitement and are key to designing a home that is intentionally crafted for you.
3 | Concept Design
As the first design phase, this part of the process makes the leap from conversations to concepts. Everything we create in this phase is done by hand to maximize flexibility and generate ideas quickly. Working back and forth from master plan scale to room scale, we fuse your vision with the complex zoning and building code requirements into schematic floor plans and elevations for your review and approval. This is a process so we offer several iterations of the design to make sure we get it right.
4 | Design Development
Here we transform hand-drawn, well-defined ideas into a tangible building by modeling the design in Revit, the most capable architectural software available. In this phase, we refine the design to account for construction assemblies and building systems, and begin coordinating with engineers and specialty consultants. Also in this phase, the final design will be solidified and you’ll be able to experience it in three dimensions.
5 | Construction Documents
It's ok if you don't want to understand the building science and constructability details that are generated in this phase, but they are all necessary for the construction and performance of your home. During this phase, we will also work together (or with your interior designer) to select all of the fixtures and finishes that will make your home feel right and express your unique style.
6 | The Build
No - architects don't actually build homes - but we'll help connect you with general contractors who are capable and qualified to construct your new home. After selecting a builder, they will provide you with a cost estimate and will be responsible for every aspect of construction. During construction, we’ll visit the project to review the work and answer any questions from the builder to make sure that it will meet your expectations when it’s done.
For a more thorough understanding of our process visit the Questions page.
Client Testimonials
"Jason Cherry with Rowen Architecture is an absolute diamond in the rough. Being in the construction industry ourselves, we know that the demand has created a fast paced work environment where it’s easy to slip into doing just the “norm”. When Jason arrives to a meeting, he is attentive, thoughtful, asks the right questions to understand the balance between aesthetic and functionality and budget. It’s as though he has literally climbed into my thought process and brings drawings to life that I thought only lived inside my head- then made it better. He is an absolute pleasure to work with." - Joni Petro, Old Goats Hard Goods
"Our experience with Jason was one of being clearly heard. Somehow he was able to get inside our heads and synthesize our thoughts with his own creative expertise. He not only picked up on our big ideas, but he delighted us with details he knew we would love. Jason is an honorable man, characterized by timeliness, competence, and doing whatever he could to keep us on budget during uncertain times. He coached us along, professionally and kindly, as we had to make several decisions we'd never dreamed of making. Jason made all the pieces fit, and we couldn't recommend him more highly." - Craig and Marti Seminoff
"We are really enjoying the cottage, it is so beautiful. We appreciate all the hard work and talent that went into our house." - Kevin and Annette Fink
"Jason, you should be proud of your part in the creation of a very unique home." - Robert Alexander and Stephanie Dames
Rowen Architecture
7235 U.S. 93 South, 4B
Lakeside, MT 59922
517.879.6475
collaborate@rowenarchitecture.com
Serving the flathead valley
and greater pacific
northwest region