A young family wanted to build a weekend home for extended family on a hilltop with 340 degree views of the Blue Ridge in western Virginia. Bermed into the hillside, the house is anchored by a mature oak tree uphill and fans open to views of the Rapidan River valley. The public spaces have the most exposure to the site while introverted rooms such as the den, office and bedroom suites are nestled into the hillside for privacy.

A mix of passive design and technology: thermal sinks in exposed concrete walls and floors, high ceilings, geothermal, LED lighting, radiant floors, green roof, passive ventilation, generous roof overhangs, and foam insulation creates a very comfortable and efficient house. Acoustical treatment of ceilings and walls provides clear storytelling and the culture of craft reinforces the durable design.

The sheltered nature of the bedroom wings, reminiscent of the agrarian outbuildings on the site, allows the glassy volume of the public living space to soar. The mix of materials highlights each space: exposed, board formed concrete walls provide ample art display, cedar paneling and fir doors give warmth, the glossy kitchen and baths create pop, the open riser steel, wood and concrete stairs invites visitors upstairs, and the custom cedar windows and doors adds drama to the main living spaces. There are landscape features for play on the site: slate pathways, steps up to the oak tree, a generous terrace, fire pit and fiber-optic laden bird bath around which the whole family can gather.  

The private areas on the main level: office, den, master and guest suites are nestled against the hill with exposed concrete walls and floors. The entrance node serves as transition to the great room. The kitchen and a cozy sitting area tucked under the loft and the large family gathering spaces are in a double height room wrapped on three sides by the view of the river and mountains beyond. Upstairs are the children’s bedrooms and a back porch with access uphill to the oak tree. 

This primary residence was a major renovation of a dark and aged historic row house with leaning floors and failing stairs. The transformation created an open plan and brought in more natural light through the original dogleg alley. A palimpsest parti presents the new materiality in contrast with the historic shell and context.  Special acoustic wood detailing and beeswax walls on new insertions help reflect light and define spaces while preserving the existing plaster perimeter walls. The inside-out relationship with the alley expands the feel of the enclosed space. Spatial layouts are conducive to large gatherings while maintaining an intimate atmosphere. Interior design strategies worked with old and new furnishings, family heirlooms, and an extensive art collection.   The project also features many hidden built-ins and compartments throughout, using a ship-like mentality to access every square inch for functionality. The building envelope also reflects the Owners’ principles with energy efficient elements such as a living roof, foam insulation, ERV, and solar panels.

A folk art dealer and a music teacher wanted to build an “instant heirloom” to feature their valued collection, regional craft and to serve large annual reunions. Placed on a knoll on 100 acres of farmland, the project fits the site as naturally as nearby agrarian buildings. Evolving from diagrams separating the master bedroom from the Studio / Guest House, an elongated configuration with unified roof design features an open plan, dogtrot breezeway and porches. The design connects with the scale of the site while being functional for two people or 150 people. A regional response to a southern place, the design is anchored by fieldstone gravity walls and chimney while a "Core" with walnut basket weave houses plumbing and storage functions. Sliver windows provide privacy, light and solidness, contrasting with the open public spaces that connect with the landscape. Radiant concrete floors linked to the geothermal system provide a passive and active heat sink. Overhangs protect the interior from summer sun. The zinc roof folds to become a protective shear wall. The wood, stone and concrete are brought together with hidden stainless steel connectors while SIPs and glulams allow for large open spans. A study in material expression, the house showcases built in Nakashima shelving, vanity, and furniture. A built in grill, screen porch and entry court connect to the land in a minimalist way. FSC certified Duratherm windows, recycled glass tile and ERV units are a few sustainable tactics supplementing the handmade craft giving back to local culture.

An artist and an engineer wanted to build an energy efficient home nestled amongst the barns on their property overlooking a pond in rural Virginia. The ambiguous center within the unique geometries of the existing buildings is enhanced by the new home. The approach from downhill is heightened by the house as it slides towards the pond.  The house massing is expressed with differentiated volumes for the public and private zones with a “dog trot” for entry. A person arriving to the house can choose between the formal front door and a mudroom entrance. The wood and stone bedroom volume completes the “Modern Barnyard” court and the steel framed living space steps lightly near the fragile bank. Cedar clad parapet walls create a modern box around the green roof deck, and simple standing seam metal details fold over the primary living spaces mimicking the barnyard vernacular. The open steel and wood stair allows for natural light and views through the house while also linking the living space with the more intimate library upstairs and guest rooms downstairs. Careful Energy Modeling in the design phase has resulted in energy bills of less than $50 per month. Passive solar techniques combine with high insulation values for energy efficiency. Essentially placed windows facing south utilize shading louvers while framing the view and a pergola structure marks the path to the entry and provides protection on the north. Now the artist has ample wall space for art and the engineer relaxes by the pond.  

First in the southeast U.S. to be awarded the Gold certification in the LEED for Homes Pilot Program, the Yoga Studio features curved structural insulated panels for wall and roof construction, a geothermal mechanical system and a green roof.  A bermed entrance to the east and the western end sits high with a deck on the view side feeling like a tree house. The owners, both practicing Buddhists and avid modernists, were interested in creating a weekend retreat from Washington, DC in the Shenandoah Valley. The natural setting with distant views and nearby rock outcropping were maintained for enjoyment while meditating The space feels big for spaciousness, views and light while maximizing efficiency and maintaining a modern purity of form and space.  The morphology of the curved space inside transports all who visit. This outbuilding fits with the site while maintaining a modern purity of form and space rarely seen in this rural setting. The benefits of utilizing local craftspeople as well as using sustainable materials such as recycled boards, pollution abatement concrete, beeswax and reflective ceiling tiles helps redefine  an enduring sense of place. The details, materials, furniture and nature provide the only art expression, freeing the space of metaphysical distractions. 

Near the Virginia State Arboretum this structure features 2900 square feet fitting between 3 other 3 acre lots and a farm to the northwest. The available slot between an existing rock ledge and the black board fence line forced the development of a linear plan with a shifted wall to take advantage of solar gains while turning away from northwest storms and Rte 50. This concept represents possibilities in an evolving sense of place blending the best of local traditional materials with new technologies forming a low maintenance house free of sentimentality. An inspirational thought of sports cars, airstreams or even aircraft hidden away in a barn drove the high contrast of metal cabinets, concrete and darkwood boxes on the inside of the house.

The main house site is located in a small clearing in the woods, which allows a full southern exposure and panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The house is nestled with the site creating interstitial spaces that link with the natural setting.  

The clients sought a clean, modern aesthetic that fit with the site and takes advantage of the dramatic views with minimal obstructions from the architecture. Intended as a vertical gallery for the couple’s art collection, the concrete Tower and its integrated fireplaces create a central hearth element; while its cantilevered loft forms a cozy space within the Great Room. This tower and entry bridge separate the public from private spaces while an open plan creates a minimalist aesthetic.  A screened porch pavilion, built-in concrete grill center and custom concrete spa anchor the edges of the exterior spaces. 

This ecomodern house blends regional craft with universal technologies. The main rooms face south with angled glass walls for optimal solar exposure and solid north walls to provide a thermal barrier against winter wind.  Built in furniture provides efficient use of space, and closet walls on the north side with movable art panels provide a thermal buffer. The designers developed the lighting plan to display artwork as well as to establish needed task lighting that would reinforce the overall model of the home.  Exposed interior concrete walls provide structure and support for a concrete floor. Stress-skin walls, a steel structural frame, and aluminum windows comprise the house’s structure, while vertical exterior cedar siding adds warmth and texture.  All of the windows and structural materials were manufactured or fabricated within 30 miles of the site.  The house pushes local technologies and craft to their limits of expression, while maintaining a good modern elegance.

The clients had an interest in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Japanese design. The couple felt strongly about having an energy efficient house which used green and regional materials. The 4,000 square foot, 3-bedroom house was to fit in with the landscape. A passive solar scheme stretched the major daily living spaces along the east-west axis for maximum heat gain and big mountain views. The private and formal spaces turn along the other tree line, creating a modified cruciform.The massing took the shape of the hillside, using shed roofs reminiscent of local farm buildings. The main roof slopes at a minimum from the open landscape up to the trees, making a transition from one level to the two-level volume. Roof slopes, overhangs, and shading trellises were designed for intimate scale and passive solar efficiency.The entry sequence uses a series of structural layers and deflected vistas, lending a view through to a rock garden in the northeast meadow. The circulation, structure, and space relations reinforce feelings of discovery. A central fireplace and stair tower is the central organizer and soul of the house. The floating stairs allow a transparency for light and views. The tower mass and concrete hall floor form a thermal heat sink in winter months.

The structural vocabulary blends the cedar timber and glass system on the south with the stress skin walls and subtractive openings where privacy and protection from the elements are an issue. Glulam beams and stress skin roof panels create long spans and cantilevers, without using large timbers. The poured concrete and recycled limestone walls root the house to the landscape as well as bring the outside in. The dark fireslate counter tops form an additional heat sink in the Kitchen volume. Bamboo was used as a ‘green architecture’ flooring material in the Living Room. Local labor on stucco, stone, and copper roofing was a sustainable design tactic commonly seen in the region.

When this young modern couple married and combined their two households in the groom’s modest ranch-style house, they immediately began to envision changes that would make their house one that they would enjoy for the rest of their lives. By opening up the house with an addition/renovation, the front yard would function as an extended porch, while the Kitchen, Dining, and storage spaces could be rearranged to achieve their goals of hosting large elaborate dinner parties. This existing 1950’s ranch-style house sits near the crest of a hill across the street from an undisturbed lake viewed through a scrim of trees. In this friendly, close-knit community, many people wave as they pass by, or stop to chat, as front yards often are used as an outdoor room or extension of the house. 

The final design created a dual-stationed Kitchen to allow flexibility in circulation patterns. The double islands help define the edges of a central Kitchen, while unified flooring and a general openness allow the Living, Kitchen, and Dining spaces to be read as one diverse space, as well as separate spaces at the same time. A diagonal step system and retaining wall funnel visitors up the stairs next to the existing brick base wall. This angle becomes a raised plane or gate layer that forms a roof valley support. A canted butterfly roof allows the ceiling to open up to the light and views, creating a small covered step Porch functioning for shade and cover, while letting controlled light deep into the house. A forced perspective is created by two diverging walls focusing out towards the lake at a slight angle from the house. The glass wall forms an angle parallel to the arc chord of the front property line for setback efficiency and appropriate view framing. A collage of structural layers presents itself to the street frontage, giving a hybrid vigor to what was once a very staid elevation. A subtle complexity of vertical sequences tells the story of what was once old and new, inside and out, while giving a new richness that did not exist before.The architecture forms a gallery quality for the couple’s modern furniture collection, which includes pieces by George & Mira Nakashima and Le Corbusier, as well as other 1960’s modern pieces. Great care in the foundation design and construction specifications was taken to preserve the existing trees.

The angles have helped create an extra deep stainless steel counter at the cooktop with floating maple box cabinets in front of a back-painted glass backsplash wall lit with fiber optics. Granite counters add a contrast to the wood floors and furnishings. Floating glass and wood display shelves will house the many collections which personalize an otherwise warm and minimal aesthetic. The maple cabinets are provided by Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens. A pivoting stainless steel front door with textured glass and LED entry lights, stone tile, and wood vestibule steps signal the importance of design in the lives of the owners to visitors as they walk up the stairs. The cantilevered stress skin panels and steel frame balance the dynamic angles formed by the stucco landscape and support wall. The stucco goes from inside to outside, blurring the lines of enclosure, and reinforcing the connection with nature outside.

A few years after the completion of Phase 1, renovating the main spaces of the house, the clients returned for Phase 2, renovating the master bedroom, bath and closest. Deliberately placed windows provide both natural daylight and privacy. Custom ceiling paneling, lighting and sliding door to the bathroom give the sanctuary of the bedroom a special art-gallery feel.

The approach was to design a house that takes full advantage of expansive mountain views and passive solar energy. A covered Entry Porch establishes a human scale. From the entrance, a central spine or corridor creates a direct axis to northeast views of the valley and links the various public spaces to the south with the private to the north. The staircase, formed of oak and a steel cable handrail system, frames this hallway on the left. From the main axis, the plan flares outward towards the south for passive solar gains, while creating a wide cone of vision towards the eastern view. Masonry piers and large custom windows with deep horizontal mullions for structure and shading considerations form the southern and eastern walls. As the roof line rises, rooms step down from the front of the house to the back achieving a theater effect oriented towards the valley and the mountains in the distance. Much of the program, including the Great Room, the Kitchen, and the Sunroom, is massed in this rear southern section. Linked to the axis is the Kitchen, which serves as the central core of the residence. Four columns, structural beams, and suspended cabinet walls delineate the space and accentuate its role as the heart of the house. On the north side and upper level, a simpler construction scheme is illustrated. Smaller windows are used to provide insulation and privacy without hindering sweeping views in both the Meditation Room and Master Bedroom on the upper floor. Horizontal elements such as window mullions, exterior wood siding, and horizontally struck concrete block contribute to this home's modern Zen sensibility. A human scale is achieved by creating warm and intimate spaces in contrast to the expansive surroundings.

The clients insisted upon the use of natural materials - stone, wood and glass - throughout the entire home. With the help of sculptor Richard Lew, the owner crafted all tile and stone flooring, granite counter-tops, and exterior stone walls and terraces. Stone will also be used in the home's fireplace and chimney. A passive solar approach defines the design and materials. Slate covering the Sunroom floor captures the sun's heat during the day in cooler months. Roof overhangs, strategically placed deciduous trees, and recessed shades shield the spaces from the summer sun. A closed loop geothermal heat pump creates an energy efficient home heating and cooling system. The roof system of glue lam beams and stress skin panels with cedar ceiling add warmth and strengthen the relationship of interior to exterior spaces.The final design is a fairly compact plan with little perimeter surface for cost and energy savings, while using materials, light and views to connect with the natural surroundings.

Carter + Burton worked in collaboration with Gregg Bleam, Landscape Architect, to create a bird-blind, a pavilion and a wetland boardwalk as part of a conservancy at Powhatan School in Boyce, VA. In the past and more recently, Carter + Burton has contributed design for additional classroom space at the school including a multipurpose arts and sciences wing.

The Barns of Rose Hill Cultural Arts Center was a special project that started with a gift from the Smithy family of two dairy barns in the park in downtown Berryville, Virginia.  A local, nonprofit group went through seven years of fundraising before finally arriving at place where they were comfortable with a budget.  In order to help gather VDOT grant money, a new function for the barns was added, a Visitor Center.  Carter + Burton stayed flexible with their design and detailing to come to a final solution incorporating all aspects. The project charge included the renovation of, and addition to ca. 1910 dairy barns.

To renovate the Barns for Assembly use, their structures were completely overhauled.   Utilizing structural and building envelope designs to expose the existing structure for acoustic and aesthetic benefits was a strong design concept developed.  The essential character of the barns was preserved.  Internal girders and a SIP roof structure allowed the new use and the “old” look to work together. The existing buildings are not square or dimensionally consistent which added many challenges, but Carter + Burton designed a footprint for the addition that allows for the existing building’s inaccuracies to allow for the construction process to be more fluid.

Carter + Burton has retained the historic structure of the Barns and inserted modern elements to create a flexible assembly building that meets code and that will be used for meetings, concerts, classes, and festivals.

The clients enjoy being outdoors, but also wanted to be able to admire the exterior landscape from inside their home. Highest on their list of priorities for their home is health. The wife suffers from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS): It was crucial to design a house that would be a healthy home. Also important to the design and integrity of the house was the development of well-detailed and proportional spaces that flow with the interior design and the landscape design. The program includes four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, a kitchen and eating area, dining room, great room, mudroom I laundry, library, loft office, basement, exercise room, screened porch, detached garage, and a detached greenhouse.

A collaborative design process between the in-house interior design team, the architectural team and the clients, established a design concept for constant referral. Conceptually, the house is a box-within-a-box-within-a box set upon a plinth. Visually, the construction is a link between the western tree line, the river, and the scenic mountain views to the east and south. The layers made by recessed volumes create sun control on the east and south. The plinth frames a series of courtyards, which composes an ordered landscape among the rolling hills and tree-lined drop-off toward the river. The color and scale of the front entrance provides a warm reception. Inside the entry, three sculptural hanging lanterns act as an anchor for this end of the home's axis and forms a contrast to the stainless steel circular staircase. A view down the hallway presents another anchor - a red garden sculpture just beyond the great room. Off the entry is the master bedroom wing. This arm stretches out to the tree line above the river, which gives one the impression of being a tree house. The well-scaled kitchen supplies the necessary space for the preparation of large meals for entertaining, while also functioning well for a retired couple. The dining room, directly adjacent to the kitchen and the great room is very simplistic and allows for meals and the views of the Blue Ridge to lake center-stage. The great room with panoramic views to the east, south, and west reinforces the design concept. The south side rises for solar gains while also giving views to the loft. The grid-like pattern of the passive solar concrete floor paired with the box pattern of the custom Tibetan rug maintains a boundary for furniture arrangements and invites one to wander around the room to appreciate the scenic vistas. The rug, with stone colors accented by red (a nod to the sculpture) affirms the home's architectural axis. The upper floor consists of a guest bedroom and bathroom, and a loft office overlooking the great room. Scale and proportion support the clients' economical wishes without sacrificing good design.

Throughout the home, the intermingling of glass, wood, concrete, metal, and stone provide contrast and interest as well as a soft, modern sensibility. Integral to the healthy house design are environmentally friendly and regional materials. Prior to specifying building materials, the clients had to give their approval by studying Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Due to the wife's severe chemical sensitivities, she often slept with certain building materials and products in her room to determine if she would have an adverse reaction if those products were used in the construction of their new home. Toxic substances such as pesticides and fungicides were prohibited on site during construction. Stress-skin panels were utilized to expedite the framing in order to keep moisture out of the house while eliminating hidden pockets where molds can collect. The panels were also used for their energy efficiency. The concrete floors have a radiant floor heating system and also function as a passive solar heat sink. A sodium silicate was used to seal the floors. The mechanical system includes a heat recovery ventilator system to help filter new fresh air. All built-ins were made with substrates that had low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The foundation was poured with Wesson Oil as a release agent and sealed off with Rub-R-Wall. The main strategy utilized was separation, ventilation, and filtration. Following through on this tactic was of great importance to the future health and happiness of the clients as well as to the success of this Healthy House.

Loggerheads was Burton’s ongoing experiment in low cost, environmentally-friendly construction. The wooded mountainside site with a rock ledge and western views, was left intact by clearing only areas needed for septic, well, driveway, and equipment circulation. The 1,300 square foot house combines a simple plan and rational section to create a dramatic structure. An 86 degree angled wall with a mitered glass corner window and wraparound flower box sets up a ‘venturi’ effect to the western view between the house and the trees. The interior creates a big fun open space to feature large works of art.

The anchoring structural system is a hybrid of timber framing, standard framing, and concrete block shear corners to handle the high winds. The oak timbers were cut on site, using a portable mill. Other materials featured are cantilevered concrete and oyster shell shelves, plywood cabinets, cork bathroom floor, metal and wood hand rails, and a ground face concrete block inlay for firewood storage.

Recycled doors and windows were used to study a variety of opening strategies. Other amenities are indirect lighting, a radiant slate kitchen floor, a hinged stair boot storage area, and an Austrian wood cook stove.

The house was purchased in 2006. The new owners have maintained a relationship with Burton to help coordinate some upgrades such as an outdoor shower, a new upper deck and a bermed garage with a roof terrace. At 15 years old, the house was ready for refurbishment. Carter + Burton helped with Interior Design as well.

The Powhatan School presented the charge of building a new 16000 square foot special use classroom building. The school’s Master Plan presented an outline for the general massing which required building in a flood area as well as preserving the large “Grandparents’” tree (which is still healthy and happy) and to connect to Lee Hall to the east.

Each room required special construction techniques including shared lab space between the science rooms, a kiln, and special acoustic isolation between the language roomsand the music rooms to name a few. Controlled and mixed natural light and energy efficiency where a high priority as well as connecting with the outside for outdoor learning strategies. The code research required the choice of an elevator or interior ramp. After some long term cost analysis, the ramp was chosen as a space to provide exhibits and as an open connection between the levels and outside.  A new connecting bridge resolved multiple grades of entrances while working to existing heights. The project included renovating small portions of other buildings. Carter + Burton worked with an acoustic engineer to establish the correct volume for the music rooms which established the height of the building. Working with SIPS panels allowed for natural lighting strategies as the art rooms required north light. Through interviewing all of the teachers we found other unique ideas such as exposing the ceiling structure in the science rooms to become a “back of the refrigerator “ aesthetic that they like using the building as a teaching tool. The project used early geothermal strategies that serves the new building and was sized to add building space in the future.  The large overhang on the south side was studied for protecting the upper level windows in the summer. The project was a success using existing building materials and forms to blend with the campus.

The house was originally a 1970’s builder’s “rambler” that the client bought for its lush landscape and location outside of Middleburg. The owner, a woman from Colombia, wished to use the site as a country house for her extended family and to provide a quiet retreat for her writing and research on women’s studies.The architects developed the modest structure into a typological hybrid of a Virginia vernacular farmhouse and South American courtyard. An existing one-story structure was removed to make way for a two-story addition reminiscent of a Virginia double-level porch. The major rooms are connected by a new “gallery” that provides a sunny transition space between inside and outside. The “Gallery”, an open living porch in warmer Latin climates, had to be enclosed in glass for the more temperate Virginia weather. The gallery and the major rooms overlook a brick courtyard that is designed as an outdoor room for the spring, summer, and fall. The architects specified clapboard exterior siding, brick terraces, and limestone garden walls as a means of connecting the house to its vernacular landscape.