Passive solar design of houses attempts to capture sunlight in winter and reject it in summer. The idea is to use solar energy to reduce heating and lighting costs, and to use natural ventilation for cooling. “In Virginia, the climate imposes roughly equal loads for both heating and cooling,” says Charlottesville architect Andrew Thomas, […]
School will soon be out for summer and children will need something to keep them busy– preferably something out from underfoot. You can tell them to “Go out and play,” get back to potting orchids or code encryption, and hope for the best. If you live in a garden apartment complex or a city neighborhood, […]
When it comes to house design, there are few regional styles today. Much the same type of house is built across the United States and Canada. One distinction is the cellar or basement. In states like Florida and Texas, a house is often built on a slab or crawl space. In Massachusetts and Minnesota, a […]
Permaculture is a contraction of “permanent” and “agriculture.” Instead of using artificial fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides, instead of watering and irrigation, instead of planting in straight lines and single species, permaculture uses natural techniques to grow food and conserve resources like soil and water. It is organic gardening taken to the next level. In the […]
The kitchen garden is making a comeback. There are farmers’ markets in every Virginia town, farm subscription plans (also called CSA), produce delivery services like Relay Foods, and community gardens like the ones at Friendship Court and West Street in Charlottesville. The local food movement is lively. What could be more local than your own […]
The back porch is part of American folk culture, and the wooden deck was popular in the late 1900s, but neither has the style and durability of a terrace. A transition between house and garden, a terrace allows French doors to open from the living spaces, promotes fresh air and sunlight, and provides an ideal […]
In his novel The Longest Journey, E. M. Forster makes a rare literary nod to architectural ornament. A naked boy climbs on the roof of a country house and shouts to those in the garden below: “Am I an acroterium?” The answer: “Yes, but they are unfashionable. Go in at once.” An acroterium (from Greek […]
The average size of a new single-family house in the United States grew from less than 1,000 sq. ft. in 1950 to 2,521 sq. ft. in 2007, according to the United States Census Bureau. That was the peak year. By 2010, the average size shrank to 2,392 sq. ft., and experts in the industry predict […]
Let’s say you like everything about your house—location, size, sunlight, yard, floor plan, and so on. Maybe you’ve lived there for years, or maybe you’re about to buy it. But it has no fireplace. Can you add one? How difficult is it, how much does it cost, and how much resale value does it add? […]
Out of economic necessity or personal preference, Americans increasingly choose to stay in their homes for retirement. The neighborhood may be ideal, equipped with public transit, shops, and a stable, congenial population. Relatives may live nearby, including the next generation of grandchildren. A circle of friends may provide an active social life and support system. […]