Erich Diller of Evolve Design Group

Erich loves the classic look of timber framing and particularly the timelessness of the old barn style. But Erich will be the first to tell you, just because it's a classic, doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Quite the opposite in fact. Erich and his

wife Jeanine are a shining example of old meets new.

When asked what made him so interested in architecture in the first place, Erich says, "Architecture has been something that has interested me for as long as I can remember. My family lived in England until I was five and we used to take holidays to places such as Greece, Egypt, France and Scandinavia. I guess it must have struck a chord." Luck would have it that Erich was also fortunate enough to attend a high school which had 3 years of architectural design classes. Enrollment in architecture school just seemed like a natural progression for the enthusiastic young man. Soon thereafter he had not only his degree, but also a new wife and partner.

After both he and his wife had been working for successful architecture firms, Erich and Jeanine visited a timber frame home show in Hartford, CT in 2003. "We were considering buying property and building a timber framed barn," says Erich, "We must have visited more than a dozen timber frame companies and decided that Vince Scamporino and Timberpeg^® would be our first and only choice. Our plans changed somewhat as we purchased property with an existing home on it, but Vince never forgot our interest in Timberpeg^® and kept in contact with us. After the untimely passing of a good friend and Principal of the architecture firm I was working for, I decided to pull up roots and start a new firm with my wife Jeanine. The mainstay of our firm ever since has been Timberpeg^®. We've never looked back."

Working with Timberpeg^® has allowed Erich to work on a wide variety of projects for homeowners with varying tastes and styles. They've all been wonderful, but when pressed to pick the most ‘unusual' he says it would be the home he just completed on Candlewood Lake. It has a very interesting mix of somewhat traditional Shingle Style exterior detailing and some very clean, modern aesthetic design elements on the interior; including a stainless steel staircase and sleek limestone fireplace/ chimney with a cantilevered raised hearthstone. Erich describes the project as, "Lots of challenging details, but lots of fun!"

While the new and modern design is fun for Erich, his love for old timber framed barns still holds a special place in his heart. His firm always looks forward to projects where the Timberpeg^® frame technology combines with a traditional barn vernacular. As he describes one of his favorite projects, "We recently raised a large Timberpeg^® bank barn on the site of an 1870's barn. The existing frame was so degraded with dry rot that unfortunately it had to be taken down. Sensitivity to the town's character led us to give the new Timberpeg^® structure the exact footprint and look of the original barn. We salvaged much of the chestnut material which is being re-used as interior wall finishes and detailing. The barn sits only a couple hundred yards from my home in the center of our small town and it puts a smile on my face every time I pass by to think that we have helped preserve the sense of place and identity that the old barn once occupied."

Erich and Jeanine's firm incorporates cutting edge design and technology in their projects by utilizing geothermal and/ or photovoltaic solar solutions. Currently the firm is working on 3-4 projects using these energy saving techniques. Combine that with the built-in energy efficiency of a structural insulated paneled Timberpeg^® and Erich feels they are making great strides toward a brighter future. Indeed Erich's future is bright. He is a talented designer with a great partner by his side and a most welcome addition to the Timberpeg^® family.