Brian's work on housing around the world has been featured by:
An Enterprise with a Purpose
Dear Customers,
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I saw the immediate and urgent need of families for more space. At the same time, I've watched the real estate market challenge traditional solutions for more space.
In 2022, I responded to this need with my creativity and passion for placemaking, founding ORIGIN STUDIO to create beautiful, functional, and elevating spaces that can be delivered without interruption to our already complex day-to-day realities.
Today, Accessory Dwelling Units have become a housing solution that families and cities are turning to as they try and create more housing. We are proud to partner with cities and even become "pre-permitted" in some cities. Modular solutions are perfect for the smaller footprint of ADUs and because they are more affordable and quicker than traditional home construction.
I want your investment in an Origin Studio to be an investment in new space that nurtures balance in your personal, professional and family life and a place where you can reach for your highest creative potential. I hope you will consider us as you imagine new space for your home and family.
Brian English
Below I share more about our story and our approach to building.
Our Origin Story:
From Driveway Dream to Nationwide Impact
2022
Driveway dream
Origin Studio began in the most unexpected of places: my driveway in Massachusetts. As the world paused during the pandemic, I channeled my passion for design and building into something tangible—creating our very first ADU. With limited resources and a clear vision, I built that first unit by hand, fulfilling a homeowner's need for additional space. This project quickly caught the attention of others looking for similar solutions, proving that there was a real demand for beautiful, functional, and affordable modular homes. These early days were a testament to the power of creativity, determination, and the belief that even the smallest beginnings can lead to something big.
2023
A Home of Our Own
As demand grew, so did the need for a more robust operation. Our family’s move to Bloomington, Indiana, opened the door to new opportunities and marked the next chapter of Origin Studio’s journey. Setting up our factory in the Midwest allowed us to scale production and meet the needs of clients across the country. Proximity to key markets, including California, helped us expand our reach, while supporting the local housing challenges in our backyard. This transition from a driveway operation to a full-fledged manufacturing facility was not just about growth—it was about solidifying our commitment to delivering high-quality, thoughtfully designed ADUs to families everywhere.
2024
Delivering Nationwide
Today, Origin Studio’s modular ADUs are shipped to homeowners nationwide, transforming backyards, expanding living spaces, and helping families adapt to changing needs. Our units have evolved, but our commitment remains the same: to provide modern, sustainable, and adaptable homes that improve the lives of our clients. Each unit that leaves our factory is a testament to our journey—from humble beginnings to a thriving business with a mission to redefine "home" for our clients. Whether it's a cozy studio for an aging parent, a home office for remote work, or a rental unit to generate extra income, our ADUs continue to meet the evolving demands of modern living.
2024+
Join Our Journey
We invite you to be a part of Origin Studio’s story by choosing one of our thoughtfully designed ADUs for your own home. No matter your aim, Origin Studio offers solutions that are as versatile as they are beautiful. Join us on our journey and let us help you create a space that works for you today—and grows with you tomorrow.
My Origin Story: Space, Well-being, and Creative Potential
I founded Origin Studio after decades of work around the world helping people and communities imagine and build a better future. It has been a joy to turn this experience to help families address the need for space in our new work-from-home norms and due to economic constraints that the real estate market poses on many families. I have always focused on how investments like this support one’s overall well-being, and I am taking this same holistic approach with Origin Studio. The pandemic was a moment of reflection and transition for rebalancing our personal and professional lives. The very institutions of our families and workplaces were forced to rethink how to strike a balance in establishing boundaries and connections. At the center of this is a new priority given to our well-being. We are asking, “Is this the career I want to spend my life and energy on”, or “do I want to return to my daily commute to my office downtown?” And the mental health toll of the pandemic added new urgency to these questions. In my youth, I watched how our built environments could be restrictive or supportive of our personal and collective well-being. That’s why I pursued my studies in architecture, urban planning, and environmental science. And that’s how I became involved at an early age building houses for Habitat for Humanity, and then working for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to address systemic issues of housing and urban poverty around the world. In fact, this passion took me to more than 20 countries designing and implementing housing and economic development projects. Over the years, I have continued to learn and follow my endless curiosity into how we can create healthier places and spaces, and the joy of facilitating community along the way. Most recently, I have been contributing to projects focused on the mental health of youth in cities globally with Melinda French Gates' Pivotal Ventures and in Philadelphia in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative. I’m excited to continue on this journey with the growth of Origin Studio. I want your investment in an Origin Studio to be an investment new space that nurtures balance in your personal, professional and family life and a place where you can reach for your highest creative potential. I hope you will consider us as you imagine new space for your home and family. Brian English
Purpose & Creativity
As much as I like planning cities, housing, and community programs, I also like making things with my own hands. I have a reverence for the process of manifesting things and I try and instill this sense of possibility and creativity in my family. My son Gabriel has been a tremendous source of intelligence, inspiration and energy in ORIGIN STUDIO, and with his sister, they are budding creators with enterprising spirits.
