Alex Fraser is an architect and builder of the Pacific Northwest with an acute sense for place. The force guiding his work aspires to capture moments that bridge a connection to that place.

Much of Alex’s youth was spent in the woods of North Idaho, where he learned to appreciate and take pleasure in the natural wonders of the outdoors.  He became familiar with the land and the subtle ways it offered itself to him.  Instinctively, he began crafting small shelter structures, “forts”, that gave early form to his creative impulses.  His affection for building was reinforced on job sites alongside his father and uncles, skilled carpenters who learned their trade working for Fraser Construction in Chicago.  While they practiced their craft he collected scraps to fashion creations of his own.  By middle school, he had graduated from inventive youngster to paid laborer and apprentice.  

His interest in building led him to study architecture at the University of Idaho where he earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees. There, his early experience in construction gave way to deeper explorations of concept, meaning, and design intent. He spent time abroad in Rome, where he experienced firsthand the profound effect that architecture can have on the human spirit.

After graduation Alex began his professional journey in Boulder, Colorado, working first as a remodel carpenter before moving into custom home design on California’s southern coast. Exposure to high-end residential work deepened his appreciation for detail, craft, and the relationship between design and construction. Drawn back to the landscapes that first inspired him, he returned to the Northwest in 2012 and settled in Seattle, where he’s built a career spanning both custom home design and construction. Working alongside some of the region’s most skilled builders, he’s deepened his understanding of how design intent is realized through craftmanship and construction.

At Swoose Studio, Alex designs custom homes, remodels and additions that merge craft, performance and a sense of place. His years in construction have sharpened his eye as an architect; he understands the means, methods, and sequences that bring architecture to life. His work is informed by a deep respect for the building process and a passion for high-performance systems and Passive House principles, creating spaces that feel grounded, enduring and alive within their setting.