Westhampton

Situated prominently behind a stone courtyard on a deep and narrow urban lot in Richmond’s Westhampton neighborhood, we sought to make a house which would instantly become a timeless classic in the urban architectural fabric of this city. Until recently, this had been a block of small mid-20th century houses situated directly across from St. Catherine’s School, and between the weighty stone-walled grounds of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and the century-old fashionable shopping district of Grove Avenue. In the context of such visually rich architecture, the clients commissioned a new two story modern home more suitable to their needs which replaced their former 1 story non-descript rancher.

The site posed a challenge as the topographic change from the front to the rear of the lot was a full story in vertical drop and very wet at its north end. This offered an incredible opportunity to make a sunny forecourt along Grove Avenue and a very private lushly landscaped “sunken garden” at the rear offering quiet retreat. This cross-section between public and private space was a very early clue in how to organize the house and its urban garden simultaneously. Charlottesville based Anna Boeschenstein of Grounded LLC was hired as Landscape Architect to design the grounds as a complement to the architecture.

The plan arrangement behind the front courtyard was imagined as a series of telescoping spaces transitioning from front to rear as semipublic to most private. We conceived a 2-story solid and stately cubic volume of lime slurry washed brick, from which we “carved” openings to make windows, an entry loggia, and a glass vitrine-like home office. Where these elements are introduced, secondary materials of limestone, bluestone, oiled white oak, and copper are used as complements. Upon entering the home, you’ll find not a traditional foyer, but an oak library befitting of the owner’s artistic and historical interests. Opposite the library is a sinuous bronze railed two story stair filled with morning light from a tall east window, and beneath the mid landing of the stair is a passage leading directly to a rear 1-story wing containing the more private family spaces. At the far rear is a covered Ipe porch, outdoor fireplace, and separate quiet painting studio overlooking a lushly planted tree bosque and shaded terrace garden.

Additional photography of library, rear porches, and formal garden is forthcoming.