Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Bruce Bockus first became interested in architecture in second grade, when his older brother told him that he would make a good architect. Bruce took his brother’s recommendation to heart, developing a lifelong career as both an architect and business owner. In 1987, he founded the firm Bruce L. Bockus, Architect based on two simple principles: superior service and design. David Payne joined the firm in 1990 and in 1991 Bockus Payne was born. Over 36 years later, the firm remains devoted to curating long-lasting business relationships that hinge on communication and trust. Learn more about Bruce and his work in today’s Designer Friday.
This home embraces modernity while blurring boundaries between indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces. Photo by Emily Hart Photography
Andrew Joseph: Can you describe your design philosophy in three words?
Bruce Bockus: Listen First; Be Inspired. (That’s four!)
I always get to know the client before anything else. It’s their money and their home, and I want to get to know them well enough to clearly understand their dream. Sometimes this dream is very clear and sometimes they need a little bit of help. This is why I try to come to the table without any preconceived notions. I appreciate any style as long as it is done well.
AJ: What is the most important element in a successful design?
BB: A good relationship with your client. All good relationships are based on good communication, and without good communication, you won’t be able to get to the heart of the client’s dream.
AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
BB: Each and every client inspires me, as does the world around me. Our classroom is planet Earth and I keep my eyes wide open to find lessons everywhere I go. For example, visiting Barcelona and seeing Gaudí’s Sagrada Família was an incredible experience. You can’t help but be inspired by that space!
A bold red steel staircase, with its rich wooden steps and glass railings, provides a visual contrast that gives a contemporary feel to this space.
AJ: What is your favorite aspect of your job?
BB: Building great relationships. I could design 100 beautiful buildings, but at the end of the day, those buildings won’t become friends—many of my clients will.
AJ: What is your favorite design element to incorporate into your projects?
BB: I always think back to my grandmother and grandfather’s house, which was designed by my grandfather. They had a curved wall with a two-foot radius, and I would always run my hand along it and feel the curve. For every home I have designed since then, I’ve told the clients this story and said that it would be an honor to my grandfather to include a curved wall in their house. Only one client has ever declined.
A home with a curved corner is not an easy thing to pull off. The trim carpentry around the curve requires a lot of time and skill—a great trim carpenter will know how to do it well. I appreciate the craftsmanship of it all and still can’t resist running my hands along the curve. Beyond that, a curved wall transitions from one space to another in a very elegant way.
Continuing the bold red steel theme in a different room, this space features high, angled ceilings where red steel trusses frame the mezzanine, adding a dramatic feel that complements the minimalist modern furnishings below.
AJ: What is your favorite design-related quote?
BB: “Beauty Matters” — Sir Roger Scruton. I was able to hear him speak once and was truly moved by his words. Beauty matters. I am a Christian, and I believe that we can honor God by creating beauty in the world around us. Beauty inspires. A beautiful building doesn’t only benefit the client, but the whole community.
AJ: If you weren’t an architect, what would you be and why?
BB: I would be a trim carpenter. It’s design-oriented and can be very beautiful. I am an amateur woodworker—in fact, the table I eat breakfast at every morning was one that I built in college 45 years ago. I have built furniture for my son, my brother, and his family.
AJ: Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
BB: Believe that the best is yet to come. I’ve always been surprised and delighted about how things move on and upward. I would tell myself to relax and enjoy the process a bit more. This is a fun job we get to do, and it can be easy to lose sight of that.
About the Designer | Bruce views architecture as a responsive art form that requires listening to and interpreting clients’ visions without preconceived notions. He also strongly believes that “beauty matters,” and that his role as an architect is to create beauty within his community. Throughout his career, Bruce has worked across all sectors, with a particular focus on community projects and custom residential design, hallmarks of his professional portfolio. After decades of service, Bruce is in the process of transitioning out of his leadership role at the firm and will continue to practice architecture primarily on residential and non-profit projects. In his free time, Bruce teaches a weekly Sunday School class at Crossings Community Church. You can also find him in nature, eating nearly all of his meals outdoors with his wife Suzanne, gardening, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to aspire design and home magazine.