Malcolm Brennan has designed homes in the coastal South Carolina area for nine years, but his principals and influences go back much further.

Having dealt with homeowners, city officials, project developers and a wide range of other contacts. "I have learned that, in conducting business, honesty and integrity are very important traits," said Malcolm. "In practicing architecture, creativity, communication, experience and attention to detail are essential."

Born in Savannah, GA in 1958, Malcolm and his family, three years later, moved to Charleston, SC. They lived on the Citadel campus where Malcolm Brennan, Sr. taught as a professor of English.

The influence of his uncle, William Robertson, an innovative and well respected sculptor, instilled Malcolm with a love for art early in life. At the age of 15, he lived in Cambridge, England, and traveled throughout Europe with his father. "I was exposed to some of the greatest art and architecture that western civilization has produced," said Malcolm.

Upon returning to America, Malcolm's appreciation for architecture and his desire to understand the building process led him to seek work on the construction of a new church in the Charleston area. When construction was slow and because of his love for a popular Lowcountry pastime, fishing, he worked as a crewman on shrimp boats at Edisto Beach.

Eventually, Malcolm attended the University of Dallas' art school for two years, then transferred back to South Carolina where he attended Clemson University's College of Architecture and earned a BA in Design in 1982.

The move to Dallas was an enlightening experience for him. Having been primarily exposed to traditional and classical architecture, "I was really struck by the buildings in Dallas," he said.

Living in a large city like Dallas captured his imagination and fueled his interest in architecture. "When I returned to Charleston during the holidays, that too was a striking experience," he said. "Though I was in a very familiar environment, I felt I was seeing things for the first time. That's when I decided to become an architect."

In addition to new construction projects, residential and commercial renovations have had a strong influence in Malcolm's business. The city of Charleston is currently using his talents and skills to renovate a museum located on a verified authentic sight where slaves were sold.

Malcolm has also designed six single-family historic reproductions on St. Phillips Street in downtown Charleston. These are new homes designed to look like renovations of older historic homes.

Malcolm's success started simply, however. His first architectural project was his parent's house located on Edisto Island. "I guess they wanted to reap some of the rewards of putting me through school," he said, laughing. This 2,200 - square-foot, two-story, elevated home holds many of the key elements of coastal homes and of Malcolm's designs. Coast homes have terrific panoramic views, but are subject to flood plain restrictions, erosion conditions and significant structural forces in hurricanes.

In addition to traditional and classical styles, Malcolm's designs have also been influenced by the craftsman style bungalows and even modernism.

Another major influence on his designs is the new technologies that can make homes safer, more durable and more energy efficient.

Malcolm's design techniques also merge traditional design methods with computer technology. "We use computer imagery to increase accuracy and improve communication with the client." said Malcolm.

"Sometimes clients indicate that they want certain features without really knowing why." According to Malcolm, satisfaction means interpreting a client's ideas and thoughts in ways they may not have considered.

Other projects include a partnership with builder Mike Blanchard to produce a 2,400 square-foot, three bedroom, two bath speculative home at St. Thomas Point in Cainhoy, SC. The site is located near a boat landing and community dock. "This is a beautiful and fast-growing area," Malcolm said. And, building speculative homes is something he hopes to do more of in the future.

Today, his market runs from $150,000 to $750,000, with square footage from 1,500 to 6,000 and geared mostly towards home buyers living on the picturesque resort islands of Kiawah and Seabrook.

Malcolm has worked with some well respected builders in the Charleston area, including Duncan Townsend of Osprey Construction and Kirk D. West, a landscape architect and builder.

"Malcolm is one of the most honest persons I know and with high ideal," said Townsend. "He expects the same in everyone else."

"He is fun, has a good sense of humor and gets excited about his work," said West. "Details are important to him, never brushing them off and sometimes working long hours until they are worked out," he said.

Malcolm published a booklet called Architectural Services Guide to educate clients about design and construction processes and to give people a "clear understanding of what they will encounter along the way." This booklet offers information about scheduling, construction contracts and "design build" approaches to selecting a contractor.

According to Malcolm, experience and communication have played a major role in his success. Honest hard work, an appreciation of his profession, a supportive family and a growing network of associates have contributed to his career.

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