Featured in USA Today for Designing Homes that Breathe
- Z Group Architecture & Interior Design
- Dec 2
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
We are honored to be featured in USA Today for our continued commitment to sustainable, emotionally resonant design. In an era where “eco-friendly” can feel like a trend or checklist, our approach at Z Group is rooted in something far deeper: legacy, landscape, and the human experience. This feature highlights how our Principals, Seth Hmielowski and Scott McHale, lead with intention — showing that sustainability is not a limitation, but a profound design opportunity.
Read the full article below or explore the original feature on USA Today.
Designing Homes That Breathe: How Z Group Architecture & Interior Design Redefine The Art Of Sustainable Elegance
Matt Emma Contributor
Published 12/02/2025
Can design be both breathtakingly beautiful and environmentally responsible? As conversations around sustainability intensify, architects today face the challenge of designing spaces that are both visually striking and deeply respectful of the environment that sustains them. In Aspen, Colorado, Scott McHale and Seth Hmielowski, Principals at Z Group Architecture & Interior Design, have been showing that the two can coexist.
Z Group, an award-winning practice with roots tracing back to 1952, has built its reputation on crafting homes that harmonize with the land rather than dominate it. Scott describes their process as both intimate and intentional, beginning with spending time on-site, reading the landscape to understand sunlight, slope, and weather, before any drawing begins.
Seth says, “Many of our projects begin with questions. How does the morning light fall across the living room? Where will the family sit to watch the sunset? How can the architecture enhance those daily moments without taking away from the natural experience?” This kind of attentiveness has practical benefits, too. Studies have shown that homes designed with solar orientation and passive heating strategies can reduce energy use by up to 30% compared to conventional builds. Hence, Z Group integrates high-performance insulation and glazing, solar panels, and innovative energy systems into nearly every building it designs.
By integrating materials such as locally sourced wood and stone, the company also reduces the environmental footprint associated with long-distance transportation.
Their commitment extends beyond new builds. In a region known for its luxury homes, Z Group collaborates with clients to consider remodels, a subtle but meaningful form of sustainability. “Sometimes the most responsible thing we can do is to adapt what already exists,” Scott notes. “Preserving the structure, reimagining it, and giving it new life uses far fewer resources than starting from scratch.”
While some firms chase bold statements, Seth and Scott, with their team, focus on human experience and emotional connection. They say, “Our work is about listening to the client, to the site, and to what the environment tells us.” That humility shows in their projects, which often blur the line between interior and exterior. Expansive glass walls open to terraces framed by native vegetation. Natural materials are chosen not only for their aesthetics but also for their low environmental impact and tactile warmth.
“The homes that we design are curated for our clients’ legacy, to reflect their journey and to tell their story. People come to us to connect,” Seth says. “Our job is to design spaces that help them do that, to wake up and see the mountains, to feel light change throughout the day, to experience quiet.” Research supports the emotional intelligence behind this approach. Studies show that, in addition to promoting sustainability, biophilic design also enhances productivity, mental well-being, and creativity.
In an age when sustainability can feel like a buzzword, Z Group’s work demonstrates that it can also be deeply personal. Designing with the environment in mind, Scott believes, isn’t a limitation; it’s an opportunity to create spaces that last.
“Sustainability doesn’t mean doing less,” he says. “It means doing better. It’s about making choices that respect the land, the people, and the generations that will come after.”
In Aspen’s crisp air, surrounded by forests and mountain light, that principle feels both poetic and practical. Scott says, “The power of design lies not just in what we build, but in how thoughtfully we choose to belong to the place we build in.”
Sustainability Rooted in Story
At Z Group Architecture & Interior Design, we believe sustainability and beauty are not at odds — they are part of the same story. Being featured in USA Today reinforces our belief that site-sensitive, emotionally rich architecture is more relevant than ever.
We’re proud to share this recognition with our clients, collaborators, and community — and we look forward to shaping what comes next.
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