With its expansive green spaces and relaxed rural feel, it’s not hard to imagine why Indian Hill consistently ranks on the list of best places to live in Ohio. This former farming community is now a quiet, residential suburb in Hamilton County, home to some of the most competitive public schools in the country. It’s an ideal place to raise kids, and Niche.com ranked Indian Hill #2 on the list of best places to raise a family.
If you are interested in settling down in this excellent community, our editorial team has listed the best residential architects in The Village of Indian Hill. They were selected based on their impressive portfolios and the stellar reviews they continue to receive from their clients.
John Senhauser Architects
1118 Saint Gregory St. Cincinnati, OH 45202
John Senhauser Architects is one of the most celebrated architectural firms in The Village. Quite rightly so, as this award-winning firm boasts 42 years of success in the custom single-family residential market.
Leading the team is John Senhauser—founder, owner, and principal architect. John is a highly-respected architect and no stranger to recognition with more than 80 design awards under his belt. He brings his extensive experience and attention to detail to every project the firm takes on.
One of the firm’s most notable projects is a private residence in Indian Hill completed in 2005. Adding to the firm’s already robust collection of awards, the custom-design, family home has bagged six design recognitions so far. The Indian Hill residence is another testimony to John Senhauser Architects’ design-savvy and commitment to detail.
RWA Architects
2771 Observatory Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45208
It’s all about collaboration and building relationships, the cornerstone values of RWA Architects. For principal partners, John Isch and Michael Mauch, putting the client’s needs front and center is the reason behind the firm’s long list of satisfied and repeat clients.
Aside from the firm’s collaborative spirit, it is equally known for its work in sustainable design. RWA Architects is an active member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), the Cincinnati Preservation Society, and a proud employer of LEED-certified design and building professionals.
One of their LEED-certified projects is a sprawling, French-inspired residence in Cincinnati, built solely with locally sourced and manufactured materials. Combining a flair for classic design and sustainability expertise, RWA made another solid mark with this project as the first-ever, LEED Platinum-certified home in the city.
The Drawing Department
3217 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209
The Drawing Department is an architectural firm driven by a love for design. This young team is currently making waves in the city with a growing portfolio of well-diversified and award-winning projects. From contemporary residences to stunning restaurants, this Cincinnati-based firm never runs out of fresh, creative designs that combine aesthetics with functionality. For these projects, the firm has earned Honor and Merit Awards from the AIA Cincinnati Design Awards and several AIA Cincinnati’s Custom Residential Architects Network Awards.
Being a design-centric firm, its creative process begins with aesthetics. The Drawing Department aspires to create beauty and elegance. What makes this dynamic team stand out is how it manages to find that sweet spot between good design and practical function. It’s a delicate balancing act that The Department is able to achieve by working closely with and listening to its clients.
The Siga House residential project in Cincinnati is an example of how the team goes beyond creating beautiful spaces. The single-story, custom-design family home is a fusion of design and function with its subtle, contemporary interiors combined with the client’s requests for practical space planning and energy efficiency.
Alto Design
6709 Madison Road, Cincinnati OH 45227
At designer-led firm Alto Design, there are no barriers between architecture and interior design. This working philosophy is driven by the firms’ leaders, principals Andrew Schaub (AIA) and Prisbet Yanes. Schaub is the Director of Architecture. He is a 30-year veteran in the industry, a design aficionado at heart, and was once included on a list of 15 best architects in Cincinnati. Schaub is also passionate about green building and is a certified LEED AP+Homes professional.
Yanes is the director of interior design and brings her unique design approach to the firm. Influenced by her travels and many years of experience in architecture and design firms, she designs with intention, building on cultural narratives while staying disciplined in her architectural roots. Together, the duo is driving Alto Design to higher ground.
This classic beauty in Cincinnati is a recent project of Alto Design. It is one of the very few LEED Platinum-certified homes in the city, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
CHAATRICK Architecture and Urban Design
6425 Gem Stone Drive, Liberty Township, OH 45044
The name “Chaatrick” is inspired by an eastern songbird’s long journey through adversity—a story that may sound similar to the process of taking a concept to construction and then completion. Chaatrick Architecture and Urban Design finds delight in this long and sometimes arduous process.
After 15 years in the business, the songbird’s story continues to motivate the team at Chaatrick. Led by founder and principal architect Jaipal Singh and creative lead Leeanne Boland, the team stays rooted in its core values of inspiration, beauty, and meaning. This thoughtful approach to architecture is a guiding principle that is evident in Chaatrick’s diverse portfolio of residential projects.
One of the most striking projects is located on a small island in Finland called Uto. Once again, the team took inspiration from the songbird’s journey. They took an old army bunker and transformed it into The Sanctuary of Silence project, a community space meant for silence and meditation. The 2×6 wooden structure almost looks like an art installation, a testament to the firm’s commitment to turning ideas into art.
Sally Noble Architect
413 Wyoming Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45215
Sally Noble Architect is a small boutique firm with an expansive vision. This full-service architectural firm has been operating for 34 years, with projects that include new homes, renovations, additions, and commercial properties including assisted-living facilities.
Sitting at the helm is Sally Noble. She is a registered architect and a proud Cincinnati native. She was named one of Cincinnati’s best architects in 2016. Sally believes that the client-architect relationship should be a partnership with one common goal. It is this personalized approach that makes Sally Noble so beloved of her clients. She also has a LEED-Accredited Professional + HOMES certification and has designed several LEED-certified projects to date.
One client who couldn’t be happier is the owner of this single-family residence in Indian Hill. The property is home to a family of six and takes cues from mid-century design with its huge picture windows and airy open-space plan.
ESM Architects
211 East Main Street, Mason, OH 45040
ESM Architects believes that great architecture starts with the client. It sounds like a bold statement but ESM takes this to heart. The firm maintains its people-centered approach with something that clients don’t usually see on day one: a design sketching session. While the client explains his/her needs and wants for their space, the ESM team starts sketching. It’s the firm’s version of taking notes, yet with a deeper level of insight and a display of artistry. The objective is to produce an initial design that ensures both parties are completely aligned. This unique process has served the firm well for over 30 years and will remain a standard as they continue to build on their solid reputation in the city.
Its roster of principals includes Brad Ewing AIA LEED-AP, Brian Schwieterman AIA CAPS, and Mark McConnell AIA. With their certifications in sustainable architecture and aging-in-place, they can address the varying needs and desires of a wide range of clientele. They lead the team in designing custom homes and renovations.
This project is a custom-design, traditional-style residence by ESM Architects. It is located in Signal Hill and it is an obvious show stopper in the neighborhood.
WiFive Architects
PO Box 12398 Cincinnati, OH 45212
WiFive Architects is making a mark in Indian Hill. As one of the younger players in the city, the team carved a niche by being one of the few Certified Aging-in-Place specialists in the city. This design principle has its eye on the future and requires a clear understanding of aging-in-place solutions to home building or remodeling. Homeowners looking to renovate, expand, or build their “forever home” will find the team at WiFive Architects highly trained and able to respond to future needs. This pioneering team provides aging-in-place design so well that in 2011, the National Association of Home Builders recognized its excellence with a Major Space Award.
Photo credit to Nordloh Properties
The custom-design property is a 4-bedroom residence in Liberty Township. The contemporary design is perfect for a suburban family who loves entertaining.
Wentz Design
7813 Ted Gregory Ln., Montgomery, OH 45242
At Wentz Design, beautiful, functional spaces are serious business. The team believes that each project is an opportunity to collaborate with clients. And it considers its work complete when that collaboration results in great spaces delivered within a client’s budget.
Mike Wentz (AIA) leads this boutique architectural design team. As founder, principal, and owner, Mike drives the team and the firm has a portfolio of beautiful residential projects to show for it.
This custom-design Tudor-style residence looks like a picture straight out of an English fairy tale. With its pitched roof, chimney, and brick-and-timber exterior finish, the house has become quite the head-turner in Mt. Lookout since its completion in 2017. Of course, always keeping budget in mind, Wentz Design built the house using sustainable construction materials and processes. This means that it can withstand weather changes and aging, making it very cost-effective for the homeowners.
Mark Dunkley Architecture and Design Inc.
8621 Sturbridge Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45236
Mark Dunkley takes homes very personally. That is the heart of Mark Dunkley Architecture and Design Inc. Mark founded his firm in 2002 which specializes in high-end custom design residential projects for Cincinnati homeowners. After almost twenty years in the business, Mark is known by his clients for his personal touch. He believes that homes are a reflection of family. For him, transforming the homeowners’ dreams into reality is his mission.
This process begins with Mark’s sketches which are available for viewing on his website. He puts his clients’ visions on paper before developing them into schematic designs. Mark listens to his clients and strives to be there at every step, from design development, documentation, to lighting design. This dedication is what sets him apart from the crowd.
True to his mission, Mark and his team designed this house in Indian Hill for a family looking for a cozy home. The wood exterior finish feels warm and the mirror windows reflect the bright green landscape of the surroundings.
