About

Together we elevate design

WINTER HOLBEN began as an independent design studio led by Principal Elisa Winter Holben, with a focus on placemaking across retail, wayfinding, and community environments. As her work increasingly intersected with architecture, the value of deep collaboration across disciplines became clear—especially in creative partnerships between designers and architects.

Following a series of successful joint projects, including the award-winning 3S Artspace, Elisa and her husband, Principal Architect Brandon Holben, AIA, formally joined forces in 2015. This partnership marked the creation of WINTER HOLBEN as a fully multidisciplinary studio—blending architecture, interiors, branding, and experience design into one seamless, collaborative practice.

Since then, the studio has grown into a highly skilled and passionate team, united by a commitment to design excellence and a shared belief that the best outcomes are shaped by close collaboration and diverse expertise.

our design values

ELEVATING HUMAN EXPERIENCE

Our commitment to the highest quality of design is an acknowledgement that design shapes the human experience, from the everyday to the extraordinary. With this responsibility in mind, we seek to enhance these experiences in the spaces we gather to work, play, rest and do business.

REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Sustainability is not only core to our business values, it’s an ethical imperative to our work. With every structure we design, we consider environmental implications and opportunities to reduce energy use, use sustainable materials and tread lightly within the natural world.

CONNECTING DESIGN & COMMUNITY

We believe in the powerful relationship between design and community: that design transforms communities and that communities shape design.

Winter Holben architecture and design, team at work, brewery

How we work

At WINTER HOLBEN, every project starts with listening. We collaborate closely with clients - whether you're launching your first restaurant, leading a cultural institution, or developing a new property - to bring your vision to life through thoughtful, context-driven design.

Our “small studio, big experience” approach means you get the personalized attention of a dedicated team with the depth and range to guide complex, multidisciplinary projects. We tailor our process to each client, but every collaboration is rooted in:

Understanding your specific project objectives and vision
Analyzing contextual parameters and technical requirements
Delivering multiple ideas and iterating based on your feedback
Taking a consultative and communicative approach at every step

Building community

We are deeply committed to the communities where we live and work—both in our region and beyond—and to the global network of design professionals that inspires us.

We believe design has the power to connect people, strengthen neighborhoods, and contribute to more vibrant, inclusive places. That’s why we actively support organizations that make our communities—and the design world—stronger. We do this through board service, sponsorships, donations, discounted design services, and ongoing collaboration.

For us, building community means using our time, expertise, and creativity to make a lasting, positive impact—locally and globally.

Organizations we have supported include:

3S Artspace
AIGA Maine
ARCHITALX
BIPOC Fest
Black Heritage Trail NH
Creative Mornings Portsmouth
Cross Roads House
The Dance Hall

Fair Tide
Footprints Food Pantry
Kittery Little League
Labrie Family Skate at Puddledock Pond
PAVE
Rice Public Library
Seacoast Science Center
SEGD

Shapleigh School
Strawbery Banke Museum
Soul Models
TedX Portsmouth
Traip Academy
USS Albacore Submarine Museum