Downtown Loft

Charlottesville, VA

2021 Architecture MasterPrize “Best of Best” Interior Design Award | Apartment Interior
2021 MUSE Design Awards Silver Winner | Residential Interior
2021 Residential Design Architecture Awards Honor Award
2020 AIA Central Virginia Merit Award for Excellence in Interior Design
2020 TAC Architect of the Year Award
2020 Architizer A+ Awards Jury Winner | Apartment
2020 Architizer A+ Awards Popular Choice Winner | Apartment
2020 Architecture, Construction & Design Awards Winner | Residential
2019 Architectural Record Kitchen & Bath Award
2019 AIA Virginia Merit Award for Excellence in Interior Design

Downtown Loft Cover Image

How does a modern sensibility allow an old structure to breathe again?

This project is a renovation of a structure built in 1843, one hundred and seventy-six years old at the time of its renovation in 2019, making it the oldest building on the Main Street pedestrian mall in Charlottesville. As found the technics of the existing structure were in sorry shape—structural framing, roofing, insulation, windows, mechanical systems, electrical systems and plumbing were all completely renewed to serve this structure well for another century or more.

Transparency through from front to back is a key design intention on both stories—a second-floor office space and a third-floor residence—giving visual access to the street trees in front, the play of sunlight in the back, and allowing multiple modes of direct and indirect natural lighting. A single cabinet “box” with hidden hardware and secret doors runs the length of both spaces, organizing and concealing services, storage, and bathrooms.

The ground-floor gallery remained open during construction and was not renovated but for its mechanical system, although new columns servicing the upper stories were threaded down from above through to the basement.

Downtown Loft Hallway
Downtown Loft Windows
Downtown Loft Under Stair Kitchen View
Downtown Loft Hallway
Downtown Loft Stair

The third-floor sleeping loft stair is both foreground and background, heavy and light: the white guardrail is a single 3/8” steel plate, the treads and risers are folded perforated steel.

Downtown Loft Under Stair Detail
Loft Material Detail

Functional and durable stainless-steel accessories for the kitchen and bath are custom designs and fabricated locally.

Loft Kitchen Window
Downtown Loft Bathroom Sink
Downtown Loft Stair Railing
Downtown Loft Stair Shadow Detail
Downtown Loft Kitchen Sink and Range

All the kitchen appliances are hidden when not in use. Doors to the left and right of the work surface open fully for easy functional access to wall ovens and refrigerator.

Sky Light
Downtown Loft Floorplan
Downtown Loft Wall
Downtown Loft Door

Project Type:Residential, Commercial

Size:2,350 SF

Collaborators:

Longview Construction Management (General Contractor)

Dunbar, Milby, Williams, Pittman & Vaughn (Structural Engineer)