Crafting Homes with a Sense of Place

For McLean Quinlan, architecture begins with two anchors: the client and the place. From these foundations, the British studio creates homes defined by quiet confidence, sensitivity to landscape, and an enduring sense of warmth. Their work blends local vernaculars with a contemporary sensibility, producing buildings that feel at once rooted and timeless.

“Everything starts with where the house is and who it’s for,” Kate explained. “We’re drawn to materials that feel grounded and enduring—things that will develop a story over time.”

Timber sits at the heart of this philosophy. Its tactility, warmth, and ability to age gracefully make it a natural fit for interiors designed to invite life and memory. With Dinesen Douglas fir, McLean Quinlan finds a material that matches the generosity of their spaces: broad, calm boards with a strong grain that can complement stone, metal, or traditional detailing while maintaining a sense of clarity.

A Dialogue Between Architecture and Landscape

One of the studio’s most striking collaborations with Dinesen is a private residence in Jackson Hole, perched high above the valley with sweeping views of the Grand Teton. Inside, the wide Douglas planks ground the rooms with a subtle elegance.

“The house sits above Jackson Hole with these incredible views,” she recalled. “We wanted a calm, warm material to sit alongside the stone and the dramatic landscape. The wide Douglas planks feel generous, with a soft, even grain that catches the dappled sunlight and relates beautifully to the timber decks outside.”

Seamless thresholds and carefully framed vistas dissolve the boundaries between inside and out. Here, the flooring is more than a surface—it is part of a conversation between the architecture and the surrounding wildness.

Material Honesty and Longevity

McLean Quinlan’s buildings are designed to endure, their character deepening with time. Natural materials are chosen not despite their imperfection, but because of it. Wood, stone, and metal are detailed to weather and settle, creating homes that remain alive to their surroundings.

Sustainability underpins this ethos. Responsibly sourced timber locks in carbon, grows more characterful as it ages, and supports a lighter footprint. Knowing that the wood has been carefully managed allows the practice to specify it with confidence, aligning with their aim to build in a way that respects both client and environment.