Principal Architect

Architect Giles Blunden has been focused on refining the design of solar homes and green building for more than 35 years. Blunden Studio is a full service architecture firm that specializes in sustainable design. Giles was a principal architect and developer of Arcadia Cohousing in Carrboro, NC. Communities Magazine recently featured a story on Arcadia, naming it one of the most beautiful co-housing communities in the country. Says Blunden: “The central philosophy of our work is to create spaces that provide a sense of well-being and fun while maintaining a strong responsibility to the stewardship of the larger environment that supports us all. We bring this philosophy to all of our work be it an addition, a renovation, a new house, or a whole neighborhood.”In addition to Arcadia, Giles designed and developed Pacifica Cohousing with the goal of providing an affordable, sustainably designed neighborhood. Odonata is very pleased to have this energetic, inspired and committed architect on our team.

“My current goal is, in the next ten years, to take a leadership role in moving as much low-environmental-impact technology into the residential housing sector as possible, through design and publication of beautiful, livable, affordable, neighborhoods.”

Professional Resumé

Born in London England 1942 Lived in Australia 1945-1954 moved to US in 1954.
1970 Graduated with architecture degree from University of Utah 
1973 Created Design Works a design build partnership with Dail Dixon FAIA
1975 Became a North Carolina registered architect # 2766
Started Applying Solar applications in design as an architectural design professional. Designed early passive solar homes In Orange County; Member of NC Sustainable Energy Association, Served as Board Chair; Life member of American Solar Energy Society
1978 Started Space Builders a worker-owned design build firm.
1988 Took a 1-year sabbatical and became interim director of the local Art Center during a building crisis, seeing it through to a stable business footing.
1989 Started Giles Blunden Architect, an architectural firm specializing in sustainable homes.
1992-1997 Initiated and managed Arcadia Cohousing, a Carrboro cohousing neighborhood based on sustainable principles using passive solar design, solar hot water, and solar electricity. Provide architectural design for 23 homes.
1997 Moved into off-grid home that was awarded Natural Home House of the Year, and Editor’s choice for the decade.
1999 Became second LEED (Leadership in Environment and Energy Design) registered professional in North Carolina 
2001 Began Carrboro Collaborative Development Association to develop affordable sustainable cohousing neighborhoods The first neighborhood, Pacifica, was completed in Dec 2007 and was sold out before construction started.
2005 Received $100,000 grant from the NC Energy Office to put solar electric systems in Pacifica as a demonstration project. See common house street lights and pathway lights.
2002-2007 Worked with NC State University to develop Low Impact Design for stormwater BMPs: Bioretention basins, Cisterns, level spreaders, turbidity control, etc. Received $7000 grant for solar pump and cistern to water community garden.
2007 Awarded North Carolina Environmental Stewardship Leadership Award by NC State Energy Office.
2008 to present Working as the architect on Veridia, a very low impact speculative 39 home housing development in Carrboro NC.