BIOGRAPHY
Joe Tara was in practice as a residential designer from 1975 to 2021, working primarily in mid-coastal Maine. His company, Jozef Tara Design Inc., presented a portfolio of work covering both design and design/build projects, from intimate cottages to guest house/carriage house/main house complexes.
His degree in Architecture and Industrial Design from Rhode Island School of Design gave him the strong foundation he built his reputation on, and one can identify his work by the attention to architectural details, the interactions of shapes, forms and roof lines. The industrial design segment of his education focused on furniture design and fabrication, which he pursued for several years, deepening his sense of interior spaces, livable floor plans, built-ins and the practical use of living space, and leading to residential design being at the center of his practice.
His personal design style involved a close connection with his clients, working on a one on-one basis from the initial site work through the completion of the house. Through listening and observation he helped his clients sort through their wishes and needs, including studying their budget, resulting ultimately in the creation of a design solution that they were excited about aesthetically, one that worked with the site and fit their daily living patterns, as well as meeting their budgetary constraints.
His portfolio showed breadth and variety, reflecting the range of aesthetic perspectives amongst his clients. He designed and built a contemporary glass house, intimate seaside cottages and rambling shingle style family houses. He converted an old farmhouse into a contemporary living space, transforming all the outbuildings into new uses. He also designed numerous additions and renovations to existing homes. He often overlaid different architectural features to introduce an eclectic personal feeling into his work. For example, he might incorporate Arts & Crafts detailing into a house that was predominately Maine cottage or Shingle style.
Joe’s projects made use of the range of building materials available in Maine including post and beam framing and recycled material if applicable. He was always concerned with energy efficiency and was alert to products that work towards that end. His goal was to actualize his client’s visions while at the same time maintaining high standards of design and quality, leaving both parties pleased with the outcome. It was work he loved and it gave him great satisfaction.