Likewise, time itself is a natural cycle in addition to a human construct codified in our clocks and calendars. Our design philosophy continues to be defined by the belief that theory and practice are vital to the design process in equal measure, and that theory can disrupt the engrained habits of architectural practice (and vice versa).Īrchitecture is a mediator that can remind us of our relationship to nature our experience of the built environment is necessarily informed by natural factors such as weather and sunlight. This concept of allowing light to determine the form of a building is an extension of Parabola Principal Carrie Meinberg Burke's masters thesis work at Yale, which focused on evolving built forms from natural forces rather than human aesthetic conventions. Timepiece is oriented true solar north/south and many of the building's angles-including walls along both staircases and the parabolic curve of the north-facing roof-are determined by the movement of the sun throughout the year, from its shallowest point at the winter solstice to its steepest angle in the sky during the summer solstice. A beam of sunlight focuses through an oculus and traces its way across the walls and floor of the home's northern-facing Observatory. By re-drawing property lines in collaboration with the seller, we ended up with a smaller parcel set back from the street.īecause the house sits in a preserved historic district, the design process was a balance between creating something new without detracting from the established surrounding neighborhood and following guidelines set forth by the local Board of Architectural Review. Inspired by Victorian architectural conventions without directly mimicking them, the home is a modern reinterpretation of a carriage house-nearly hidden from the street with a small 20x50' footprint that leaves the rhythm of the existing homes uninterrupted.Īs its name suggests, Timepiece functions as a sundial.
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Rather than using the full lot to build a large house near the street, we instead saw a unique opportunity in the grove of established trees in the rear of the lot: the perfect spot for a smaller home.
The project began with the discovery of a large and beautiful lot for sale-part of the grounds of a stately turn-of-the-century home originally owned by a local judge. Timepiece is Parabola's live/work studio, nestled amongst historic Victorian homes in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia.