Tucked away in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, lies a hidden gem. Twenty-two cottages sit in harmony under a canopy of leaves that rustle in the coastal breezes. You can walk from there to the Tato-Nut Donut Shop, and yet downtown Ocean Springs feels miles away. This hidden gem is Cottage Square, the neighborhood where architect Bruce B. Tolar lives and works.
Bruce's 43-year career spans every region of the United States, where the highest concentration of his work can be found in the southern states from Florida to Texas. Bruce has designed everything from ocean piers in Ocean Springs to luxury homes in Rosemary Beach. While the high-end work has been satisfying, he reserves the softest spot in his heart for cottages, which form the core of his current work. "It has changed the whole direction of where I was going," he says.
In addition to the role of designer, Bruce Tolar is a cottage connoisseur and collector. He developed the Cottage Square neighborhood in the late 2000’s with an initial group of cottages by Steve Mouzon, Marianne Cusato, and others. That collection will soon be joined by a new factory-built cottage, the first to be produced by Artifex Cottages, a professional partnership between Bruce, Will Burgin, David Kim, and R. John Anderson.
We are honored that Bruce has joined our roster. He is an award-winning architect and master of neighborly design, and we look forward to making his house plans available to you.