The Offices at Belle Hall

Commercial office design doesn’t often start with details; it begins with big picture math - proformas, core factors, totals of leasable space, parking calcs, etc. While all of these formulas came into play early and often during the design of this speculative office building, we were able to focus equally on the small design moments that seek to make a building and space unique.

Glass guardrail system with stainless steel hardware.

Warm walnut paneling contrasts the white terrazzo stair treads and tile flooring.

Tenant entrances each have frameless glass doors with walnut surrounds.

Exterior entrance introduces you to the wood and slat elements in conjunction with charcoal painted steel.

Metal wall panels and brick are the primary exterior materials - balancing a sense of permanence with a contemporary aesthetic.

Rainbow Row | 107 East Bay St. Renovation [Part 2]

The first part of this historic renovation story was published nearly three years ago during the early days of the design process. We had recently been hired to design some functional updates for the new owner and breathe life back into this former wharfside mercantile at the corner of East Bay and Elliot streets in downtown Charleston, SC. Design goals included undoing some less sensitive renovation remnants and creating a light-filled kitchen by enclosing an interior courtyard. This had to be carefully studied and planned as the historic district rules prohibit seeing any new fabric from the public right of way; see building section below confirming this. Read the previous blog here: Rainbow Row | 107 East Bay St. Renovation [Part 1]

Elliot Street elevation

Building section cutting through new kitchen confirming historic district site lines are preserved.

Since then, the Board of Architectural Review approvals were obtained, City of Charleston building permits were acquired, contractors carefully undid the non-historic fabric, restored and created a family home and the next chapter for this resilient structure. The homeowners’ passion for antiques, relics and collectibles, along with their sensitive design eye resulted in self-curated spaces that are both historic and current while capturing their personalities perfectly. Perhaps the most poetic aspect of this project for us is the continuation of this centuries-old structure evolving for yet another generation.

[Photography: Callie Cranford, Charleston Home + Design magazine]

[Photography: Callie Cranford, Charleston Home + Design magazine]

[Photography: Callie Cranford, Charleston Home + Design magazine]

General Contractor: C. B. Elrod Co.

Wood Flooring: Vintage Elements of Greenwood, SC

Lighting: Urban Electric, Circa Lighting and Restoration Hardware

Cabinets: Kris Katlawski, Eurocraft Inc.

Countertops: AGM Imports

Appliances: Plugs Appliance Center

Tile: Lowcountry Tile Contractors

Click here for Charleston Home + Design magazine article.

Inspiration from Roma - Elizabeth Unique Hotel

As architects in Charleston, we are students of history successfully meeting modernity and seek out those moments when homage is paid to historic structures with meaningful renovations for current day functions. During a recent visit to Rome, we found ourselves in one such transformation at the Palazzo Pulieri Ginetti - the Elizabeth Unique Hotel. An ancient palazzo, lush and thoughtful interiors by Studio Marincola Architects, art curated by the nearby Russo Art Gallery - it’s a wonder we ever left. The architects, interior designers, artists and craftspeople involved with this hotel design struck the perfect balance of honoring the historic vessel it inhabits while offering an environment that is somehow bold and restrained at the same time; the details were as powerful as the overarching effect. Bravo, we will be learning from this one for a long time.

Entry lobby. Artist: Enrico Benetta

Monumental stair design was perfection: carrara marble, lighted gold handrails with dark wood guards. Sculpture: Enrico Benetta

Manuel Felisi’s collage anchors the stair landing. [If you know the lighting designer / manufacturer for the light fixtures, please let us know.]

Edited entry into the room, neutral colors, arches are introduced with gold accents.

Old meets new: vintage black and white sceneries printed on wall covering adds a nostalgic layer but the execution and composition is quite contemporary.

Probably the best color of blue we have ever seen was introduced on the wall separating the sleeping area from the utilities. You can see the gold accents better here.

Giorgio Tentolini’s wire net artworks. This person is a genius.

“Dandelion” by Enrico Benetta

Sketches from Roma

“Traveling - it leaves you speechless then turns you into a storyteller.” Battuta

Professor Rodriguez did a very comprehensive job teaching our History of Architecture classes at Virginia Tech back in the day, but nothing compares to standing in front of or inside these architectural giants and studying by drawing. Here are some of the rough travel sketches, mostly exploring scale, form and massing, from our recent trip to Rome.

Our favorite view within the Piazza Del Popolo is of the (seamingly) twin churches Santa Maria di Montesano (left, 1662-75) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (right, 1675-79) with the ancient Egyptian obelisk centered and Via del Corso starting between the churches.

Closer view of the Santa Maria di Montesano in the Piazza del Popolo; not shown is the Italian street performer next to me singing ‘Sweet Dreams’ by the Eurythmics.

There is a church every turn you make in Rome. San Giacomo in Augusta was next to our hotel and after walking past it for days, we finally peeked in…speechless. Decided to draw the floor plan to convey the mass, construction and robustness.

Interior of Santa Sabina on Aventine Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome. This sketch was rushed and does not come close to conveying the scale and reverence of this space. May need to sketch this one again.

This gives you an idea of scale of Santa Sabina, if the door was this big.

The Ponte dei Quattro Capi bridge is from 62 BC.

Historic architecture and fabric was the main focus, but finding Richard Meier’s modern Ara Pacis Museum was a highlight.

Fulton Residence: Unique Modern Living

The design of this residence began as a collaboration between Alka Construction and Rush Dixon Architects to continue the Fulton Neighborhood’s “unique modern living” approach to the built environment. We appreciate what Alka has created in this neighborhood and our collective goal was to create a “Lowcountry Modern” aesthetic that responds to the site. Prior to the commencement of construction the homeowners purchased the property; we were then able to customize the design to their passions and way of living.

The house was designed to have functional and easy spaces to live in, that can work equally well for entertaining, family time or solitude. A significant design moment is the custom wood scrim wall which not only separates the entry from the dining room, but displays artifacts from the homeowners’ many travels. We measured each of these special pieces and created several iterations of the wall detail until we landed on the best configuration.

The properties in Fulton are intentionally modest in size which creates a rich density similar to the courtyard living of neo-traditional neighborhoods like Rosemary Beach or Alys Beach. This creates a challenge when laying out the house and exterior living spaces as the goal is to create privacy and functionality. The site borders on beautiful wooded wetlands which we wanted to embrace as a natural backdrop and short view. The main entrance is centered on the dining room and living room which creates a view corridor through large full glass sliding doors to the woodlands. The master bedroom is another beneficiary of the wooded view.

Photo: Ebony Ellis

Photo: Ebony Ellis

Photo: Ebony Ellis

We were but a small part of bringing this design to reality. The homeowners and Alka took the lead on the interiors with help from Cabaret Cabinetry, Urban Electric, Inspired Closets and Tile and Stone Design Studio. Click here for more photos and drawings.

Tradesman Brewing Company

We like beer. We also like kick-ass entrepreneurs who have a vision, pool their talents and work hard to make things happen. The folks behind Tradesman Brewing Company - Sara Gayle McConnell, Scott McConnell and Chris Winn - are not only clients but friends, which makes it even more fun to cheer them on. Easy to do with their brand new “Charleston Area Entrepreneur of the Year Award” and let’s face it, their Circuit Breaker IPA. The project was an adaptive reuse of an industrial building in what is now called Charleston’s Brewery District (Click here for some NY Times love on the subject). Riffing off of the “Tradesman” brand and their tag line “Well Built Beer”, the design elements are raw, functional and industrial: shipping containers (for signage, storage, and an outdoor bar) framed by exposed steel and concrete for the outdoor patio.

Other reasons we love these guys:

“BREWSTER”: Building Relationships Empowering Women Striving To Exist Responsibly. They donate proceeds every quarter to a local women’s charity.

UNION CLUB: Of course they have a “union” complete with dues and secret meetings.

GROWLER CLUB: Yes, growl as in dogs; a favorite of Mr. Tibbits.

Next time you are in Charleston or on the peninsula, stop in and give these guys a high five and enjoy a pint. Cheers to you Sara, Scott + Chris!

Coastal Fertility Specialists - Nexton

South Carolina’s premier fertility center, Coastal Fertility Specialists, is expanding to the Nexton neighborhood to better serve patients in the Summerville area. As experienced experts with high pregnancy rates and national patient satisfaction awards, Coastal Fertility Specialists wanted a forward-thinking, modern design. Due date: 2020

Brighton Park Blvd. Street Elevation

Entry Drive Elevation

Crafts + Arts

“Art is not about thinking something up. It is the opposite -- getting something down.” Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way

Some of our favorite craftspeople and artists who as Julia Cameron would say are “ getting something down.”

KHALIMA LIGHTS, Wadmalaw Island, SC | Copper and Brass Handcrafted Lighting

We came across the talented husband and wife team at Khalima Lights when we were designing the interiors for the new Firefly Distillery building. Handcrafted from copper and raw steel, their fixtures are honest, simple and artful. [Shown below: “Bare Firefly Pendant”, “Waycaster Pendant” and “The Pablo".] Click here for their website.

JEREMIAH JOSSIM, Savannah, GA | Artist

Jeremiah Jossim’s landscape series, painted on circular canvases, stopped us in our tracks while on a tour of the Savannah College of Art + Design, his alma mater. [Shown below: “Seascape #5”, “Seascape #4” and “Desert #1.”] Click here for his website.

NIKKI GALAPON, Richmond, VA | Artist

Contemporary and abstract artist, Nikki Galapon is a former architecture school classmate from the Virginia Tech days. Her maps series, our favorite, layers pen and ink sketches and color over vintage maps. [Shown here: Boston and Lower Manhattan] Click here for her website.