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Concrete Realism
AN INTELLIGENT BUILD EXPERIENCE
Written By: Cassidy Mantor
It’s not every day that a builder’s prior job was as an Emergency Room doctor, but at Vitruvius Built, a Duke trained physician leads the team. “I encountered challenging situations in medicine and had the opportunity to engage with people and understand them on a very intimate level,” shares Charles Ochello, Jr., founder and CEO of Vitruvius Built. “I found many parallels between my work as a physician and my work as a builder, both in the intuitive understanding of people, how they live, and how that informed the homes in which they lived.”
“I found many parallels between my work as a physician and my work as a builder, both in the intuitive understanding of people, how they live, and how that informed the homes in which they lived.”
–Charles Ochello Jr., Founder & CEO, Vitruvius Built
Ochello is talking about phenomenology, the philosophical study of experience. It is an ancient Roman study in its purest sense as old as humans that is designed to answer a question of objectivity from a quantitative basis – making sense of feelings using concrete realism. The applications are numerous, from the physical sciences to psychology to architecture. Think Heidegger and his predecessors Husserl, Sartre, and Kant.
Vitruvius Built uses phenomenology to help clients understand the underlying reasons of why a place feels special to them and translates that data into an expression of what is important in their day-to-day lives. While their collaborative partners of architects and interior designers analyze a client’s ethereal ideas, Vitruvius Built emphasizes the hard science of emotional intelligence. “This approach enables us to scientifically engineer experiences for our clients,” Ochello says. This purposeful practice at the synergistic intersection of medicine and architecture is the heartbeat of Vitruvius Built’s work.
Their homes capture the experiential nature of a well curated life, such as an adventurous traveler’s visceral recall of an idyllic trip to Gstaad, or an art lover’s delighted spirit the moment they connected with a Portuguese artisan in their studio. In the world of intelligent build experiences, Vitruvius Built is focused on building experientially elevated homes that enhance their owners’ feelings and enjoyment of life. The structures are firmly rooted in place, and yet inside, their owners not only thrive, but they also soar.
TIMELESS INSPIRATION
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, the firm’s name sake, was an ancient Roman architect and engineer who is credited with writing the first books on architecture during the 1st century BC. His De architectura is a ten volume treatise that establishes that all architecture must serve three basic needs: utility, strength, and beauty. Vitruvius drew inspiration frequently from his studies of medicine and science to inform his teachings of architecture and construction, both in design and usage of materials.
“2,000 years after Vitruvius lived, we continue to study multiple disciplines to glean a true and very intimate understanding of people,” Ochello explains. “At the end of the day, the goal of these incredible homes that we’re building is to serve their inhabitants.”
“From an expressionary standpoint, a client may want a home to be a hub for fun,” Ochello continues. “They may gravitate toward finishes that feel warm and welcoming, or they may want to build a monument to greatness that will become a multi generational home that deeply embodies them and will be the legacy they pass down.”
The firm’s mission is clear: to redefine the luxury residential construction experience. With its focus on providing an intelligent build experience, they distill an incredibly complex process of luxury home construction and produce a once-in-a-lifetime experience for their clients. They understand that true luxury goes much deeper than the product. Just as memories are stored in the cerebral cortex and become physiologically embedded in the network of the brain, a built structure is not just a home, it is a storied embodiment of one’s identity and existence.
“2,000 years after Vitruvius lived, we continue to study multiple disciplines to glean a true and very intimate understanding of people. At the end of the day, the goal of these incredible homes that we’re building is to serve their inhabitants.”
–Charles Ochello Jr.,
Founder & CEO, Vitruvius Built
“I fell in love with building and this concept of negative entropy, where you can take a plat of land and build something that
Has so much life in it.”–Charles Ochello Jr.,
Vitruvius Built
WORKING WITH ONE’S HANDS
Ochello’s first exposure to construction was in middle school when he helped his dad build their family home. “I fell in love with building and this concept of negative entropy, where you can take a plat of land and build something that has so much life in it,” he reflects. Always working with his hands, whether building forts in the woods with buddies, tinkering with engines, or software development, Ochello is a maker at heart.
Ochello leads his team with the exceptional practicality of an emergency medicine physician. His ability to rapidly think on his feet and deploy an analytic, data backed approach translates to high level discussions about phenotypes, commodities, and assets under management. These terms and concepts are not traditionally in the vernacular of residential home building.
“Because ER physicians have so much coming at us, we develop a sixth sense for understanding why a patient is in the ER,” he offers. That ability to promptly and effectively diagnose a person helps Vitruvius develop an immediately deep and intuitive understanding of its clients’ emotional needs and desires. “It’s not necessarily about a superficial question, there’s usually something underneath that is being sought after in the process,” Ochello explains. As it relates to building houses, sometimes those questions relate to scheduling or design, or they may be onsite in varying phases of the process. He says, “It’s important for our team to be cognizant of the multiple layers of questions and the underlying needs and wants of our clients.”
“the intersectionality of people and their homes is one that I find deeply personal, complex, and intricate, both in design and in execution. It is an incredible challenge technically and interpersonally and has such an incredible reward at the end of the journey, both for our clients, and for our team. I have always loved building things with my hands and working with high achievers who embrace a growth mindset.”
–charles ochello jr.,
Vitruvius Built
“The intersectionality of people and their homes is one that I find deeply personal, complex, and intricate, both in design and in execution,” Ochello says. “It is an incredible challenge technically and interpersonally and has such an incredible reward at the end of the journey, both for our clients, and for our team. I have always loved building things with my hands and working with high achievers who embrace a growth mindset.”
STEWARDS OF NATURE
Vitruvius Built’s homes are conduits between the individual homeowner and the natural beauty that surrounds Park City. A self identified “student of things,” Ochello is inherently curious. “I spent the first 15 years or so of my studies in my professional career studying humans through anatomy and physiology, pathology, biochemistry, neurology, and psychology. And then I’ve spent the more recent 15 years studying luxury construction, build science, and architectural phenomenology how we experience the spaces around us and how we experience nature,” he shares. “There have certainly been fewer tests and more fun as the years have gone by.”
Vitruvius Built seeks to understand what draws their clients to Park City. “By drilling down into what their lives look like in town, not just on a specific parcel of land but relative to their greater intentions and desires for living in Park City, we are able to level up the home building journey and how they’ll experience their homes,” Ochello
explains. “I love people and trying to help them optimize their experiences. It is paramount that the firm act as a steward of the surrounding environment,” he adds. Working alongside outstanding architects and interior design firms, Vitruvius Built helps clients maximize their phenomenological experiences on a daily basis.
While living in Utah offers access to a world class outdoor lifestyle, building in the mountains also involves challenges presented by the topography, not to mention the unpredictability of the seasons and the uncertainty of building during winter. Vitruvius Built’s team focuses on accountability in communication. They are excellent problem solvers so when the inevitable challenges arise, they are handled appropriately. Instead of asking “why,” the team at Vitruvius Built are innovative thinkers who ask, “why not?” Accordingly, the firm attracts thought leaders who appreciate unparalleled communication, those who love nature, and individuals who are prioritizing their health for longevity.
“I love people and trying to help them optimize their experiences. It is paramount that the firm act as a steward of the surrounding environment. Working alongside outstanding architects and interior design firms, Vitruvius built helps clients maximize their phenomenological experiences on a daily basis.”
–charles ochello jr., vitruvius built
AGING WELL
Park City’s premier planned communities including Marcella Club, Talisker Club-Tuhaye, Victory Ranch, and other exclusive private communities north of Park City offer Vitruvius Built the opportunity to create more homes that support wellness. They focus on connecting residents to their communities and providing safety – goals that directly correlate to aging well.
“When I was practicing medicine, I saw three components of health for patients in their 50s through 80s and beyond,” Ochello shares. “They kept their minds active, they kept their bodies active, and they maintained close connections with their inner networks and communities.
Park City, with its pure, raw, natural beauty, checks the boxes and provides a backdrop especially for physical activity and connectivity with the community. As we’re working through design, our houses are intentionally supportive of these goals.”
In Park City, Vitruvius Built focuses on physical presence and mental wellbeing for its clients. Through applied building science, the firm analyzes air filtration and quality of build materials. The team minimizes VOCs and prioritizes natural elements like stone, natural woods, and timbers inside the home. “As we progress through luxury homes, the build science and structure have a profound anddirect effect – both from an architectural standpoint and also from a daily living standpoint – on our clients’ daily usage of their homes,” Ochello says.
Ultimately, what makes a healthy home is one that maximizes the health of its residents. The more the process deepens in terms of building science and materials, the more it comes full circle back to the underlying goal of maximizing the interactivity between Park City’s environment and the impact of that beauty on residents. Ochello reframes this point: “We are minimizing the obstruction between the natural elements and our residents. The healthiest air is the air we breathe outside.”
“when I was practicing medicine, I saw three components of health for patients in their 50s through 80s and beyond. They kept their minds active, they kept their bodies active, and they maintained close connections with their inner networks and communities. Park city, with its pure, raw, natural beauty, checks the boxes and provides a backdrop especially for physical activity and connectivity with the community. As we’re working through design, our houses are intentionally supportive of these goals.”
–charles ochello jr., vitruvius built
AGING WELL
Park City’s premier planned communities including Marcella Club, Talisker Club-Tuhaye, Victory Ranch, and other exclusive private communities north of Park City offer Vitruvius Built the opportunity to create more homes that support wellness. They focus on connecting residents to their communities and providing safety – goals that directly correlate to aging well.
“When I was practicing medicine, I saw three components of health for patients in their 50s through 80s and beyond,” Ochello shares. “They kept their minds active, they kept their bodies active, and they maintained close connections with their inner networks and communities.
Park City, with its pure, raw, natural beauty, checks the boxes and provides a backdrop especially for physical activity and connectivity with the community. As we’re working through design, our houses are intentionally supportive of these goals.”
In Park City, Vitruvius Built focuses on physical presence and mental wellbeing for its clients. Through applied building science, the firm analyzes air filtration and quality of build materials. The team minimizes VOCs and prioritizes natural elements like stone, natural woods, and timbers inside the home. “As we progress through luxury homes, the build science and structure have a profound and direct effect – both from an architectural standpoint and also from a daily living standpoint – on our clients’ daily usage of their homes,” Ochello says.
Ultimately, what makes a healthy home is one that maximizes the health of its residents. The more the process deepens in terms of building science and materials, the more it comes full circle back to the underlying goal of maximizing the interactivity between Park City’s environment and the impact of that beauty on residents. Ochello reframes this point: “We are minimizing the obstruction between the natural elements and our residents. The healthiest air is the air we breathe outside.”
THE LONGEVITY FACTOR
Blue Zone research shows a strong correlation between aging and being active and engaged in the natural environment. “Taking into account that we have four seasons and there are certain times of year that require more fortified structures to enjoy life in Park City, we focus on the strength and utility of the homes themselves and minimize things that would interfere with our clients’ enjoyment of nature,” Ochello considers.
“The home must reflect the personality, taste, and lifelong travel and cultural experiences of each client, therefore it becomes an embodiment of them. To ex-perience their homes is to understand them better.”
–charles ochello jr., vitruvius built
As stewards of the land, Vitruvius Built also emphasizes building structures that help clients identify and express their states of being. “Now that we know the right questions to ask, we start to refine those concepts,” Ochello explains. “It’s important to revisit how the environment is going to inform that experience and how it informs the architecture, indoor/outdoor space, and how the seasonality of Park City will also inform that experience.” It’s another opportunity for the firm to guide their clients who may have spent some time in Park City but do not have a full understanding of the town’s seasonality. That guiding mentality helps inform clients about a wide range of intricacies, from build science to the greater environment.
Vitruvius Built understands the long term and deeply personal relationship that building a home creates. They provide industry leading communication and accountability on each project. They are well versed in working with international clientele and their expertise includes working around clients’ schedules across time zones no matter where their travels take them.
Each bespoke home is carefully crafted with the client’s vision at heart. Form and function are considered, as are longevity of the occupants and durability of the structure. Finishes are meant to last for generations. Finally, aesthetic beauty is a core consideration. “The home must reflect the personality, taste, and lifelong travel and cultural experiences of each client, therefore it becomes an embodiment of them,” Ochello explains. “To experience their homes is to understand them better.”
A DATA DRIVEN EXPERIENCE
“Maximizing efficiency through a data driven process is near and dear to my heart,” Ochello shares, who also cofounded VIUS BUILT, a luxury residential construction software firm. “Embracing technology, including AI, in an industry that is otherwise fairly tech-no-phobic allows us to not only improve efficiency but also empower our clients to make data driven decisions,” he says.
Vitruvius Built tracks costing in real time and uses historical data to power predictive AI models as they work through the financing forecasting for the project. Clients are provided with monthly Executive Summary reports, tracking project variances throughout the execution of our projects. They strategically deploy data to better inform clients and stakeholders throughout the project experience.
“What excites me is how we can use technology to disseminate information in its truest form,” Ochello shares. “Our clients want to consume the information but a lot of it is specialized to the building industry, something they may be presently unfamiliar with. Whether they don’t have the time or expertise to build their home, Vitruvius meets clients’ needs using a technological backbone that educates, involves, and empowers them throughout the experience.”
Vitruvius Built’s data backed process optimizes project scheduling, financials, and provides a platform for communication between stakeholders in the process, including design professionals, subcontractors, and most importantly, their clients. Unlike other apps that have been developed by people in Silicon Valley who have superficial knowledge of working in the luxury residential construction industry, VIUS BUILT is the product of the firm’s deep knowledge of client phenotypes as well as others involved in the day-to-day communications such as architectural review committees and subcontractors.
“The Future is here and we are building it”
–charles ochello jr.,
vitruvius built
“Our trademark is ‘Built by Builders’ because it’s really important to conceptualize and address the specialized needs of the luxury residential construction industry,” Ochello says. Currently in stealth mode, it will launch officially in February in Las Vegas at the International Builders Show.
The goal of the software is to put “rocket fuel” in the empowerment mix and allow people to do their jobs at the highest level. “Every luxury residential project is unique with elevated bespoke products, and every home is really complex,” Ochello says. “Most people in the industry would probably say construction is a very imperfect science, right?” he asks. “There’s going to be a million things that happen every day because we’re interacting with variables like weather, geography, and geology of the site. This software reduces the noise so the team can see the forest through the trees. I’m optimistic that we’re advancing humanity and changing and improving the way people live.”
VIUS BUILT is also developing visualization software that allows clients to experience their homes during the design process and throughout the construction phase with the assistance of Apple Vision Pro at a one-to-one human scale model. This competitive advantage enables Vitruvius Built to close the visualization gap and provide an experience like no other construction firm. “No other construction firm in the world has access to this technology, and it is changing the luxury residential industry,” shares Ochello. “The future is here, and we are building it.”
Emphasizing client experience means Vitruvius Built is willing to lean into challenging opportunities and conversations. They communicate on an unparalleled level, are adaptive, and love what they do, which makes for a positive environment for the team, partners, and clients. Through the use of radical data analysis, scientific method, and technical expertise, they align with their clients’ values and understand the long term and deeply personal relationships that must be built to bring to life their clients’ homes – and life stories. Ochello says, “Beyond form and function, and bespoke finishes, our homes optimize our clients’ lives on a profoundly humanistic level.”
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