Independent website / Websites
Stillwater
Architecture and interiors, with room for the work to speak.
An independent website project. Architectural imagery is AI-generated; the project planner creates a local review brief.
Explore the website- Work
- Visual direction · Website · Development
- Year
- 2026
- Status
- Independent
- Website
- Explore Stillwater
Overview
The idea behind
Stillwater.
A self-initiated website concept for a coastal architecture studio. The design gives architectural imagery the space it needs, then makes it easy to explore the projects, understand the approach and shape a first conversation. Developed from the original Stillwater concept and film in the Digital Upstream showcase library.
Homeowners considering a new home, renovation or interior project, looking for a studio whose approach feels right for them.
The brief
Make the architecture the first impression.
An architecture website needs to communicate a point of view before asking someone to make contact. The brief was to create a studio presence with a short route from browsing a building to understanding how a project might begin.
The direction
Let the images lead. Give the details a place.
A full-width opening establishes the landscape and material language. An offset project sequence slows the browsing rhythm. Descriptions and material notes live in an accessible gallery, keeping the main page composed without withholding useful context.
The design
A palette drawn from the buildings.
Chalk, mineral green and dark foliage keep the interface close to the architecture. Restrained typography and deliberate spacing leave the cedar, limestone and natural light to carry the visual character.
- Palette
- Chalk · Mineral green · Deep foliage
- Typography
- Locally hosted studio sans
- Interaction
- Project gallery · Brief planner
The build
A useful first conversation, without a long form.
The planner asks about project type, timing and priorities, then creates a local review summary. Native browser controls support keyboard use without a heavyweight interaction library. The demonstration neither collects contact details nor delivers messages.
What it does
Details that make
the product.
- Project gallery with descriptions, material notes and keyboard navigation
- A three-question project brief planner with a review state
- Responsive navigation and native dialogs with keyboard focus management
- Locally hosted images, fonts and an original showcase film
Under the surface
Built with.
- Semantic HTML, CSS Grid and vanilla JavaScript
- Native dialog and details elements
- Next.js hosting and portfolio integration
A closer look
The screens & details.
Select an image to explore.
Music-only film showing the desktop website, coastal architecture, mobile layout and project planner, followed by Digital Upstream’s closing identity. The film shows the original concept before the portfolio refinements.