Interview with Co.LAB Partner Holly Mumford of Hereabout Designs.
Our Co.LAB program is built around collaboration, shared learning, and the belief that great design and high-performance prefab are strongest when architects are brought into the process early. Through Co.LAB, we partner with designers to adapt and evolve repeatable plans using B.PUBLIC Prefab panel systems, balancing architectural intent with constructability, energy performance, and place-based design.
In this interview, we sat down with Co.LAB partner Holly Mumford of Hereabout Designs to talk about our recent project in Nova Scotia, Canada. Starting from Hereabout’s pre-designed plan The Hangout, Holly worked closely with our team and her clients to customize the home for its coastal setting while learning the nuances of panelized, high-performance construction. The conversation offers a candid look at collaboration, early decision-making, and what it means to design repeatable homes that still feel deeply rooted in place.
1. Let’s start with the story behind our recent Co.LAB project in Canada. What drew you to this site and these clients, and how did the location in Nova Scotia influence your design approach?
HM: I was brought into the project through our collaboration with B.PUBLIC, which was very exciting. Jennifer & David fell in love with “The Hangout” design, while bringing a few of their ideas and customization requests to the table. It was easy to appreciate the site - it’s incredibly beautiful. I love the traditional vernacular of Prince Edward Island and knew The Hangout would be a nice contemporary shift for the area.
2. Hereabout has such a distinctive design voice - rooted in place, yet quietly modern. How did those values show up in this home’s layout, materials, and connection to the landscape? How do you then connect that to a repeatable plan?
HM: Thank you! The Hangout was intentionally designed to be a simple, gable home on the exterior. I actually designed it during covid with the idea for it to be a place of gathering for family and friends. The house is designed on an axis - one axis cuts down the entry and one down the ridgeline & hall. This axis starts to define the public spaces from the private spaces - a necessary element for folks to share spaces (living/kitchen/dining) and also have spaces to retreat to. Since The Hangout is part of our pre-designed plan collection, it’s always exciting to see the design placed on different landscapes. I think what is successful in the design is that the shape and scale is very minimal and grounded, so it can morph into different landscapes nicely.
3. What was that experience like from a designer’s perspective working with B.PUBLIC panels and our team... both the opportunities and the learning moments that come with working in a new prefab system?
HM: I learned so much working with B.PUBLIC’s team and truly think of them as an asset to creating a successful build project. While the house is seemingly simple there are a few technical areas that we needed to flush out together. This was really insightful to learning about the efficiencies and construction of panelization. It’s fun to be able to understand the system and how a design can be achieved with prefab.
4. The Co.LAB partnership is about experimentation and shared learning. How did collaboration with the B.PUBLIC team shape your process, and what insights would you share with other architects considering high-performance prefab?
HM: I think the biggest learning curve for me was in terms of decision making and understanding that some decisions needed to be made earlier than I’m used to in a traditional project. I only see this as a positive - being ahead of the game on decision-making in a project only makes it more successful. For example, fine-tuning window sizing and fixing those sizes forced me, as a designer, to have a deadline and dive deeper into design with the clients earlier. It was excellent.
5. Designing for comfort, resilience, and energy performance often requires tradeoffs. What were some of the biggest design decisions or details that made this project stand out to you?
HM: We were faced with a few potential “trade-offs” but as a team (design, prefab, and structural) we were able to get creative and solve them without having any impact on the design or spaces. It was helpful to be able to have options with the B.PUBLIC team on how to approach certain areas of the design.
6. Is there anything else you’d like to share about this project or your experience as a Co.LAB partner... lessons learned, surprises along the way, or what you’re excited to explore next with B.PUBLIC?
HM: I’m truly excited to see this project come to life! It’s been such a positive experience working as a Co.LAB partner. Every project has lessons and surprises - but we were successful in this project by working as a team throughout the process. I’m excited to explore some new designs specific for prefab - more to come! :)
