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Restoration |
Reynolda Village
The rehabilitation of Reynolda Village into a commercial center entailed sensitivity to a historic 1916 farm group blended with the modern amenities of shopping center. The Architect’s design intent was to reserve the strong character of a village in a pastoral setting while dramatically changing the use. Parking lots, walkways, and service areas were integrated without visual obstruction among the bungalows and farm buildings that still convey the social hierarchy of their day. New structures and existing building modifications were patterned after the original architectural fabric of the farm group. Included in the project was a Sunday School Addition to the Reynolda Presbyterian Church that strategically obscures the view of the 1961 Fellowship Hall. This addition gives order to the church’s site and – like the church itself – is tangent to a new pedestrian oval creating a comfortable scale for an outdoor gathering space.
Graylyn Conference Center
The Graylyn Conference Center – a Historic Registry 1932 Norman Revival Mansion – was damaged by fire in 1980. Our firm was faced with the problems of restoration, reconstruction, feasibility study and master plan for the entire estate accompanied by the most pressing issue of the best adaptive use of the 51,450 square foot manor house.
The completion of the feasibility studies indicated that the best use for the estate was as an executive conference center. Spaces of the new program requirements were met by adapting the reconstructed third floor attic into conferee bedroom suites – sixteen all together – and lounges. Sitting rooms were converted into bedrooms and storage closets into baths. Porches were enclosed into seminar, lounge and dining spaces. The garage was enclosed into a conference room with the porte cochere acting as a lounge.
Chinqua-Penn Plantation
The former estate of Jeff and Betsy Penn, the Chinqua-Penn House is a seventy-seven-room structure built of oak logs and quartzite – both local building materials found on the estate. Harry C. Ingles – a New York Architect – drew the plans; however, many feel that Mr. Penn influenced a majority of the house design. The plan is Y shaped and the mansion was sited on the hill to afford maximum breezes and sunlight.
EBA began by preparing an overall master plan for the entire estate and its buildings. This involved a detailed renovation of the Lodge Group, which serves the Main House. The Lodge Group serves as support services for visitors to the plantation and include: offices for staff and director, ticket area and gift shop, audio-visual and interpretation of collection area, several display rooms (treasure rooms), a caretakers cottage, and conference areas for staff and visitors. While preserving the original log structure, the Architect created discreet new infill within the original building shell.
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