Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Toby Witte. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Toby, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I have two interesting stories to share:

1. I published an book this year: SUPERSIZING BLISS – HOW WE HAVE BETRAYED OUR HOMES AND THE HAPPINESS WE SEEK.

In his award-winning book Supersizing Bliss Toby Witte takes us along on a search for the creative spark that will lead to the creation of a home that will promise happiness. He shares his insights into the cultural trappings and market forces that have led to the sea of heartless, uninspired houses provided to North American homeowners as well as ideas on how to create your own home successfully despite of them. Through examples and anecdotes this book offers an empathetic look at the opportunities we have to create homes that have the chance to be inspiring stages for our lives. If you are planning to create a single-family home for yourself, this book is a must-read.

You can find out more about it right here: https://www.supersizingbliss.com/
Kirkus published a review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/toby-witte/supersizing-bliss/

It’s being sold in the Carolinas by independent bookstores as well.

2. We finished a gorgeous modern energy efficient home – the Gerendák residence.
You can find more information about it here: https://www.witteha.us/gerendak
It was featured by The Wall Street Journal: https://www.witteha.us/news/2023/5/28/featured-by-the-wall-street-journal

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I follow one passion – to bring magic to my clients’ life experience, turning their world just a titch more beautiful and more livable. For those who seek a cutting edge, energy efficient, modern home and who dare to dream big, I help to find intimate and poetic solutions. Beyond taking my clients on an in-depth design journey, I help to smooth out the entire process of creating a new home, from finding a property, to construction, and moving in.

Here is my bio:

Over a quarter century of experience in the world of design and construction comes to bear on Toby Witte’s work. German by heritage and upbringing, born in Peru, Toby has had the privilege to study architecture, building science, drafting, and construction in Germany and in the USA.

Between various employments with architect, engineering, and construction firms, he graduated cum laude from the School of Architecture at UNCC. He ran his previous design/build companies Dialect Design and Qube11 for over a decade until he founded Wittehaus in 2017.

In 2004 he received the Medal & Henry Adams Certificate of Merit by The American Institute of Architects, and in 2018 the People’s Choice Award of the North Carolina Modernist Houses Matsumoto Prize. Among other publications Toby’s work has been featured by Dwell, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.

Toby is the acclaimed author of Supersizing Bliss – How we have betrayed our Homes and the Happiness we Seek, an award-winning book about how we have come to regard the houses we live in and ideas and insights on how to create them better. He has been a frequent podcast guest, sharing his thoughts about the world of modern homes.

To learn, grow , and contribute, Toby has been an active member of the American Institute of Architects, the National Organization of Minority Architects, Brick & Wonder, EntreArchitect, and the German American Chamber of Commerce.

When Toby parks his pencil he lets himself be sucked in by a vibrant family life centered around his wife, an early education teacher, their three powerhouse daughters, and four cats. He cooks, reads, travels, plays two chords on the guitar, and loves a good beer.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I started out I simply hung my shingle up and expected millions of folks to walk through the door to inquire about my brilliant abilities to design modern and energy efficient homes. I boasted the education, experience and skill to do so. However, what I was soon to find out was that no-one cared or noticed, More importantly I didn’t understand that I was now running a business first.
For me to be able to dive into meaningful projects that would allow me to excel in what I do best and enjoy most, I had to create an engine first that would make it happen. I had to learn how to run a business before I could offer my ware. The quality of my business had to become the oxygen mask you put on in an airplane before you help others.

The first thing I learned was that the number one thing that provides revenue was Sales. The second was that I had to set up systems for and outsource all those things that I shouldn’t’ touch – essentially everything to which I was not adding any value.
Those were the fundamentals which which I started. What followed was a crash course into bushiness management, one that will be ongoing.

The two resource that has helped me the most in the process where two organizations: EntreArchitect and Brick& Wonder. Both provide endless help, insights, information, and action steps to lean and improve the business of architecture.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

As I wrote in my book and hope to demonstrate with my work: I believe that we are being offered mass produced housing that is not meant for us to live in. Our homes should provide us a stage for our lives that is enriching and empowering. We owe it to ourselves to create homes for ourselves that will bring lasting happiness to our life experience.
My mission is to show to people what possibilities and options are available to them.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.witteha.us/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wittehaus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wittehaus
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobywitte/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/witteha_us
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wittehaus

Image Credits
Amanda Anderson for the house Spark Publications for the book