about cultivate, inc.
everyone deserves access
to sustainable homeownership
in a walkable neighborhood.
everyone deserves access
to sustainable homeownership
in a walkable neighborhood.
Cultivate pursues this mission by applying our expertise in low-carbon architecture to the design and development of middle housing that invigorates neighborhoods and expands homeownership access. Walkable neighborhoods aren’t just good for the planet—they foster community, combat isolation, and bridge divides. Cultivate crafts beautiful urban homes that provide the “people-density” necessary to create vibrant communities and beloved, inclusive neighborhoods.
Cultivate pursues this mission by applying our expertise in low-carbon architecture to the design and development of middle housing that invigorates neighborhoods and expands homeownership access. Walkable neighborhoods aren’t just good for the planet — they foster community, combat isolation, and bridge divides. Cultivate crafts beautiful urban homes that provide the “people-density” necessary to create vibrant communities and beloved, inclusive neighborhoods.
Dylan Lamar
OWNER & DIRECTOR
ARCHITECT-DEVELOPER
CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANT
Dylan is among the nation’s leading architects of sustainable housing. His practice is shaped by his diverse experience as a passive house consultant, housing developer, and occasional builder. He brings vision and holistic real-world understanding to every project.
Dylan is among the leading design consultants of sustainable architecture in the country. He maintains a wide range of specializations, including Passive House design and consultation and “missing middle” housing design and development.
In 2005, Dylan designed the first certified low-income passive house built in America. He went on to help author passive house design software in collaboration with the Passive House Institute and Phius. After graduating with a master’s degree from the University of Oregon in 2009, Dylan co-led the design team at Green Hammer in Portland for eight years. The collaborative practice he helped establish in the design-build company informs his inclusive approach to design to this day. His passion and expertise remain diverse. To date, Dylan has designed multiple socially-nourishing clustered housing developments and provided sustainability consultation on over one hundred passive house, net zero energy, and other high-performance buildings across America.
In 2018, Dylan returned to Eugene, established Cultivate, and began pursuing housing development that prioritizes both sustainability and affordability. Ever enthusiastic in sharing his experience, Dylan is a published author, frequent conference presenter, and college lecturer.
“Sustainability requires reverent connectivity. With simple regard for all stakeholders—ourselves, our neighbors, future inhabitants, our host ecosystem… and yes, even our financial lender—we can create something that moves us forward together.”
BS Civil/Structural Engineering, summa cum laude — University of Arkansas, 2003
Building Research Council — University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2004-2006
Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory — University of Oregon, 2007-2009
Master of Architecture — University of Oregon, 2009
Certified Passive House Consultant, since 2005
Licensed Architect — State of Oregon, since 2014
Dylan is among the nation’s leading architects of sustainable housing. His practice is shaped by his diverse experience as a passive house consultant, housing developer, and occasional builder. He brings vision and holistic real-world understanding to every project.
In 2005, Dylan designed the first certified low-income passive house built in America. He went on to help author passive house design software in collaboration with the Passive House Institute and Phius. After graduating with a master’s degree from the University of Oregon in 2009, Dylan co-led the design team at Green Hammer in Portland for eight years. The collaborative practice he helped establish in the design-build company informs his inclusive approach to design to this day. His passion and expertise remain diverse. To date, Dylan has designed multiple socially-nourishing clustered housing developments and provided sustainability consultation on over one hundred passive house, net zero energy, and other high-performance buildings across America.
In 2018, Dylan returned to Eugene, established Cultivate, and began pursuing housing development that prioritizes both sustainability and affordability. Ever enthusiastic in sharing his experience, Dylan is a published author, frequent conference presenter, and college lecturer.
“Sustainability requires reverent connectivity. With simple regard for all stakeholders — ourselves, our neighbors, future inhabitants, our host ecosystem… and yes, even our financial lender — we can create something that moves us forward together.”
BS Civil/Structural Engineering, summa cum laude — University of Arkansas, 2003
Building Research Council — University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2004-2006
Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory — University of Oregon, 2007-2009
Master of Architecture — University of Oregon, 2009
Certified Passive House Consultant, since 2005
Licensed Architect — State of Oregon, since 2014
Lea Celestial
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
LIVING FUTURE ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL
LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE
Lea’s commitment to sustainability is deeply informed by her experiences as an architect in the Philippines, a country highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. There, she learned the importance of equity and access in creating a truly sustainable built environment.
She began her career by training with a Manila-based design firm specializing in high-end residential projects, followed by consultancy with the international non-profit BASE, which advances low-carbon solutions for the affordable housing sector.
Lea’s commitment to sustainability is deeply informed by her experiences as an architect in the Philippines, a country highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. There, she learned the importance of equity and access in creating a truly sustainable built environment.
She began her career by training with a Manila-based design firm specializing in high-end residential projects, followed by consultancy with the international non-profit BASE, which advances low-carbon solutions for the affordable housing sector.
Her work there involved developing and promoting bamboo construction technology as a sustainable, cost-efficient, and climate-appropriate building system for social housing projects in the Philippines. In 2019, she was awarded a full scholarship by the Australian Government to study in the Master of Sustainable Built Environment Program at the University of South Wales, where she graduated with High Distinction.
Lea relocated to Eugene in 2021 and has quickly put her diverse skills and experience to work designing and consulting on sustainable Passive House projects and innovative affordable housing in Eugene and the Pacific Northwest region.
Her work there involved developing and promoting bamboo construction technology as a sustainable, cost-efficient, and climate-appropriate building system for social housing projects in the Philippines. In 2019, she was awarded a full scholarship by the Australian Government to study in the Master of Sustainable Built Environment Program at the University of South Wales, where she graduated with High Distinction.
Lea relocated to Eugene in 2021 and has quickly put her diverse skills and experience to work designing and consulting on sustainable Passive House projects and innovative affordable housing in Eugene and the Pacific Northwest region.
BS Architecture — University of the Philippines, 2013
Licensed Architect — Republic of the Philippines, since 2016
Master of Sustainable Built Environment with High Distinction — University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 2020
Living Future Accredited Professional — International Living Future Institute, since 2020
LEED Green Associate — U.S. Green Building Council, since 2020
Her work there involved developing and promoting bamboo construction technology as a sustainable, cost-efficient, and climate-appropriate building system for social housing projects in the Philippines. In 2019, she was awarded a full scholarship by the Australian Government to study in the Master of Sustainable Built Environment Program at the University of South Wales, where she graduated with High Distinction.
Lea relocated to Eugene in 2021 and has quickly put her diverse skills and experience to work designing and consulting on sustainable Passive House projects and innovative affordable housing in Eugene and the Pacific Northwest region.
BS Architecture — University of the Philippines, 2013
Licensed Architect — Republic of the Philippines, since 2016
Master of Sustainable Built Environment with High Distinction — University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 2020
Living Future Accredited Professional — International Living Future Institute, since 2020
LEED Green Associate — U.S. Green Building Council, since 2020
Collaborators and clients
Aligned Architecture – Nir Pearlson, Architect
Black Mountain Architecture
Bruns Realty Group
Buddha Eye Temple
DevNW
Green Hammer
Holst Architecture
Lohr Real Estate
MWA Architects
Northwest Housing Alternatives
PAE Consulting Engineers
REACH Community Development
Square One Villages
Studio.e Architecture – Jan Fillinger, Architect
Sunlight Solar Energy
Walsh Construction
Zero E Design – Joaquin Karcher, Architect
ZGF Architects