The big picture: A condo goes oversize—and back to basics

Buying a condo might seem to be an exercise in ceding control—one has little prerogative to alter the building’s exterior, and a condo association has veto power over many other changes a homeowner might desire. Yet one resident of the Belmont Lofts, which were developed on a city brownfield near the railroad tracks in 2003, […]

Around the edges: Views light up a Staunton blade factory

Innovative companies may start in garages—or, in the case of one local concern, an old dairy building—but the successful ones will eventually need a proper home. Cadence is a Staunton company that manufacturers blades, needles, and other sharp components for medical instruments. Since its founding in 1985, it has graduated several times to larger workspaces. […]

Community-driven: Places and elements of the past are reflected in the work architect Kathy Galvin does today

We asked the founder of Galvin Architects about field trips to Boston with her mother, why music inspires her, and the state of architecture in Charlottesville. Why architecture? It is one of the most challenging, rewarding, and consequential disciplines one could master that is both an art form and a profession. Architecture shapes the spaces […]

From the editor-at-large: Of town and country

I think of Charlottesville as the biggest small town in Virginia. I’m not the first to say that, but it’s probably true. On the one hand you have a thriving city center, beautiful architecture, a diverse citizenry, and the pulse of a world renowned University, and on the other, you have an iconic agrarian vastness […]

Playing dress-up: When a little goes a long way

James and Rob Robertson of Robertson Renovation think this four-bedroom, four-bath brick home is a beautiful property in a perfect location that’s convenient to everything. It’s also just the place for a fantasy update, because some upgrades and small changes could turn a nice home into a great one. 1760 Lambs Rd. $499,9000, MLS #517875 […]