Jeffrey Dungan grew up on a farm outside Birmingham, Alabama. The daily exposure to soil, trees, wind, and open sky left a lasting impression on him. Those early experiences later shaped the way he thinks about architecture, influencing how he relates built forms to the natural world.
Early influences and education
Although he never imagined designing homes, Dungan’s talent for drawing and his aptitude for mathematics prompted a high-school counselor to suggest architecture as a career path. The counselor believed his skill set matched the demands of the profession and encouraged him to apply.
He submitted a portfolio to Auburn University’s architecture program and was admitted to a cohort that included Ray Booth, Will Meyer and Gray Davis. Studying alongside those notable peers gave him a collaborative environment that sharpened his design thinking.
The interview highlighted how his rural roots continue to inform his creative process.
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Design philosophy and practice
After graduation, Dungan founded a Birmingham-area firm that has become synonymous with homes that seem to grow out of the environment. His projects often emphasize continuity between structure and its surroundings, creating a seamless relationship between building and environment.
His recent book, The Soulful House, published by Rizzoli, showcases many of these projects. The volume explores how built environments can evoke strong emotional responses, offering readers a glimpse into his design methodology.
He cites Maya Angelou’s observation, “People will forget your accomplishments, they’ll forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel,” as a guiding principle for his work. This sentiment reinforces his belief that architecture should leave a lasting impression on its occupants.
He also stresses that clear communication with clients is essential. Understanding client aspirations early on helps align design intent with lived experience, ensuring that the final outcome reflects both functional needs and personal values.
Business approach
Analyzing five years of financial data, Dungan derived a simple metric that relates a project’s square footage to the number of billable hours. He uses the ratio to reward staff for efficiency while maintaining high design standards.
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“If you deliver a service, you are selling your time—ask a lawyer,” he says, emphasizing that time is a finite resource and must be measured to incentivize productivity.
He warns that an obsessive focus on speed can undermine quality. “Speed is a disease; speed will get you killed,” he adds.
“There is some efficiency that you’re going to take a hit [on] because of the design that we do, or the complexity, or the client can’t make up their mind.”
Key quote: “The cool thing about architecture that’s different from any other art form is that you move through it. For me, it’s about the experience for that amount of time that I’ve got you. I want to do a few things with you: I want to give you a hug, a greeting. I feel like even my words fail to capture it, but you know it when you feel it.”