Upon the firm’s 12th anniversary, founder and design principal Chris Tucker reflects on MODE4’s journey toward a calmer, more deliberate design ethos — one rooted in mindfulness, collaboration, and quiet confidence.
Q1:
When you think back over the twelve years since founding MODE4, what stands out most about the process of building not just a design practice, but a company with its own sense of culture and purpose?
What stands out most to me are the people — the teamwork, the connections, and the collective effort that goes into every project.
Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate just how many individuals are involved in creating a successful outcome: clients, engineers, consultants, vendors, and, of course, our MODE4 team.
When I started MODE4 twelve years ago, it was just me — sitting in my sunroom, taking those first steps toward completing that first project and slowly building a team one person at a time. Today, our studio has grown into a close-knit group supported by dozens of engineers, consultants, and collaborators who each play a part in bringing our projects to life. And woven throughout all of it are our clients — whose own energy and networks add to the collaborative spirit that defines what we do.
I suppose, looking back, what I’ve come to realize is that what I do — what MODE4 does — is bigger than me. It’s bigger than MODE4. Every project, every relationship, becomes part of something larger: a shared effort to shape places that matter.
Q2:
In those early years, when it was just you at the dining table or in the sunroom, what kept you going — what motivated you to keep building when the firm was still just an idea taking shape?
When you’re sitting alone sketching or behind a computer, the idea of the company being larger than yourself feels elusive. In that moment, it all comes down to you — the individual.
The execution of the project, the ideas, the details — it’s all in your hands.
I think this question reaches beyond architecture and speaks to entrepreneurship itself. At its core, it’s about grit. Angela Duckworth talks about this in her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
, and I often think about what I call the “Three Ps”: Persistence, Perseverance, and Patience.
Those three qualities carried me through the early years — when there wasn’t yet a team to share the weight, just a vision and the determination to see it take form.
The Three Ps are still with me every day, as I help the team develop a design, solve construction details, and continue the effort to scale the business.
Q3:
MODE4 has become known for its calm, modern aesthetic — something you’ve often described as “Quiet Modern.” How did that sensibility evolve over time, and what does it mean to you today as both a designer and a leader?
I think our aesthetic evolved hand in hand with my own growth and maturity as a designer.
Early in my career — and I think this is true for many young architects — there’s often a rush of energy, a drive to be bold, to create something progressive or dramatic. That impulse comes naturally from design school, where we’re encouraged to push boundaries and challenge convention.
Looking back, I can see that early work carried a certain assertiveness, even in the more traditional projects I took on when MODE4 first began. Those solutions were often more deliberate, sometimes even a bit forced. With time and experience, I’ve learned that maturity brings patience — the ability to take a breath, to step back, and to let design unfold more organically.
Today, mindfulness plays a major role in how we approach design. I’m always reminding younger designers: don’t force a solution because you think it’s the answer. Explore options, stay open, and don’t dismiss an idea before it’s even sketched — sometimes the most meaningful solutions emerge when you allow a thought to fully take shape on paper. When you do, the right solution often reveals itself naturally.
That sense of awareness and calm is at the heart of what I call Quiet Modern.
A design philosophy that values clarity, balance, and quiet confidence over noise. But being patient and mindful doesn’t mean we’ve lost our edge or our ambition. MODE4 remains deeply design-driven. We’re still pushing boundaries and rejecting the cookie-cutter in favor of what’s thoughtful, correct, and uniquely reflective of each client’s narrative.
In many ways, Quiet Modern is a reflection of our broader philosophy — the four core values that shape everything we do: Mindfulness, Outreaching, Design-Driven, and Enthusiasm.
Q4:
You’ve mentioned MODE4’s four core values — Mindfulness, Outreaching, Design-Driven, and Enthusiasm. How did those values emerge, and how do they shape the way you lead the studio today?
Being Design-Driven and approaching our work with Enthusiasm have always been part of my DNA as a designer.
Those qualities were there from the beginning — that drive to create and the excitement that comes with shaping ideas into built form. What’s evolved over time are the other two values: Mindfulness and Outreaching. They’ve grown from experience and from the maturity that comes with years of leading both projects and people.
Mindfulness is about presence — being fully engaged in design meetings, truly listening to clients, and reflecting their wishes and needs in the work. It’s also about awareness — of the design details, of the broader site context, and of how a building fits naturally within its environment. For me, mindfulness is tied to quiet confidence. After decades in this profession — since 1997, when I was in graduate school and working as an intern for Charlie Moore at Moore Poe Architects, through hundreds of projects — I’ve learned not to force a design onto a client or a site. I’ve found that the best solutions emerge through observation, dialogue, and patience.
Outreaching is an extension of that awareness. It reflects my understanding of leadership and my belief that design thrives through engagement. I draw a lot from behavioral psychology and leadership thinkers like Brené Brown, whose idea of daring greatly resonates with me. Part of outreaching is leaning into difficult conversations — asking the hard questions, digging deep with clients, and expecting the same openness from our vendors and consultants. It’s about creating a dialogue that’s honest, respectful, and constructive. Outreaching, in our studio, means stepping beyond ourselves — engaging with teammates, clients, consultants, and the broader community. It’s about being connected and responsive, rather than working in isolation.
Together, these four values — Mindfulness, Outreaching, Design-Driven, and Enthusiasm
— define MODE4’s culture. They remind me that great design isn’t only about form and function; it’s mostly about people, relationships, and a shared curiosity that continues to grow with every project.
Q5:
As MODE4 moves into its next chapter — beyond twelve years — what do you find yourself most excited about? What’s inspiring you as you look toward the firm’s future and the evolving role of design in people’s lives?
Lately, I’ve been feeling genuinely energized by the idea of expanding MODE4 into new markets.
We’re currently helping a client wrap up a project in Telluride, Colorado, and that experience has been a reminder of our brand’s broader appeal — of MODE4’s ability, and the talent within our team, to design thoughtfully across a range of contexts and regions.
There often comes a time in a small business when you reach a plateau — a point where the systems, the team, and the identity are strong enough to support the next stage of growth. I feel we’re there. We’ve established a distinct brand of Quiet Modern — our own aesthetic, our own way of thinking about design and collaboration.
What excites me most right now is twofold: continuing to develop the business strategically, and continuing to nurture young talent and emerging leadership within the studio. I believe we have a unique approach to design — one that encourages deep client engagement while maintaining a curated, tailored, and crafted brand.
As for design’s evolving role in people’s lives, I think custom design should never be seen as something only for the elite. MODE4 found its early footing with what I’d call the middle tier of the market, and as we continue to work at the luxury end, we’ll always remain open to clients with thoughtful, creative visions — regardless of scale or budget. For us, it’s about partnering with people who care deeply about design and who value the process as much as the outcome.
Closing Note
MODE4’s story — from a single architect sketching in a sunroom to a thriving studio grounded in mindfulness, collaboration, and design excellence — is a reminder that architecture is ultimately a shared pursuit. Twelve years in, the journey continues: quiet confidence, patient growth, and a relentless curiosity about what comes next.
Real Chats with AI
About this series
Real Chats with AI is an ongoing dialogue between Chris Tucker and an AI interviewer, exploring MODE4’s philosophy, design culture, and the evolution of Quiet Modern. Each post captures a candid exchange from a different perspective — whether client, builder, student, or designer.