MCM Revisited

MCM RevisitedVirginia Beach, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2021-2023Client/ PrivateStatus/ DesignWhen the client approached us for their home renovation, they had considered multiple concepts but hadn’t settled on a final decision. The objective was to construct a two-story addition including a two-car garage and a second-floor suite. Additionally, the client expressed a strong desire to incorporate more mid-century modern design elements into their 1950s …

Gallery House

Gallery HouseNorfolk, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2020-2022Client/ PrivateStatus/ Under Construction Structure Design: McPherson DesignLandscape Architect: Ann P. Stokes Landscape ArchitectsCivil Engineer: MidAtlantic Surveying and Land Design, Inc.General Contractor: Covington Contracting IncGallery House is a new construction project in Norfolk, VA situated on a picturesque waterfront property. The site design poses a significant challenge due to its location in a complex flood zone and the …

Flow into Nature

Flow into NatureVirgina Beach, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2019-20Client/ PrivateStatus/ Completed Structure Design: Small Potatoes Structural EngineeringMechanical Design: PermitZipGeneral Contractor: Oceanside StructuresEvery renovation project is a conversation with the existing structure. When the existing building has its own unique character and features, the dialogue becomes more engaging and inspiring. The full renovation of this Mid-Century Modern house built in 1951 is one …

Pavilion House

Pavilion HouseHampton, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2020-2021Client/ PrivateStatus/ CompletedIn the last couple of years, we have started to see more and more hidden gems of mid-century modern houses in the Hampton Roads area and are fortunate to work on some of the renovations. This MCM house in Hampton is one of our latest design. The goal is to reveal its potential beauty and …

Contempo Living

Contempo LivingNorfolk, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2018-2020Client/ PrivateStatus/ CompletedThis project is a renovation of a custom home built in the 1970s. The goal is to create an open floor plan with optimized flow for entertaining as well as daily use.Also included in the design is to transform and  update the exterior of the home to reflect more contemporary aesthetic. Another key component of …

Modern Wing

Modern WingsVirginia Beach, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2019-2021Client/ PrivateStatus/ Design.Elevation StudyBefore & AfterClient”…”Related ProjectsView AllPavilion HouseContempo Living

Vacation at Home

Vacation at HomeVirginia Beach, VAType/ Single-Family Home RemodelTime/ 2017-2018Status/ CompleteThe Morgan house is a renovation of a ranch house with aging-in-place concept. The design focused on a senior couple who have been living in the house for over 20 years. GARC  believes that designing a renovation project for aging-in-place should not just be a passive response to resolve the functional …

Water Pavilion

Water PavilionVirginia Beach, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2021Client/ PrivateStatus/ DesignThis project is a Mid-Century Modern pool house renovation and outdoor kitchen addition in Norfolk, VA. The pool house was originally designed to serve the neighborhood. Not only it has a plain utility look, especially interior, but also the relationship between pool house and the current main house is weak. The space between the …

Country Living

Country LivingGoshen, NYType/ ResidentialTime/ 2020-2021Client/ PrivateStatus/ Under Construction.Related ProjectsView AllPavilion HouseFlow into Nature

Folding House

Folding HouseVirginia Beach, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2020-2021Client/ PrivateStatus/ DesignThis single-family house in the Thoroughgood Neighborhood has very good bones and strong Mid-Century Modern features. The clients moved into the house several years ago and planned to make it a long-term home. In this split-level house, the flow to the kitchen on the upper level and the family room on the lower level …

Q&A: What are the Three Things to Check Before Buying a House?

We recently held another successful Vision Workshop for a single family house in the Oceanfront of Virginia Beach. The house is a lovely mid-century modern home on a corner lot that our client purchased not long ago. After studying the zoning setback requirements, they showed that the actual area able to build on was much smaller than our client thought …

Kitchen Is The New Center – Part 2

After World War II, Art & Arts magazine commissioned many major architects of the day to design and build homes.  The popular/acclaimed “Case Study House Program” ran intermittently between 1945 to 1966 and “sought to respond to post-war building boom with prototype modern homes that could be both easily replicated and really affordable to the average American.” The program had …

Kitchen Is The New Center – Part 1

Over 90 percent of residential projects that come our way include the kitchen. The project can involve opening up the kitchen to living area, enlarging it to allow for a multi-function space, or even building an outdoor kitchen to create indoor-outdoor relationship. One survey notes that the average American family spends five times more hours at home in the kitchen …

Two-Grid House

Two-Grid HouseSuffolk, VAType/ Residential Time/ 2019-2020 Client/ Private Status/ Design SketchesMockups.Heather and Andres”GARC designed a significant remodel of our home. We loved their ability to mix modern and conventional features into the design. Yang and Suping are also extremely kind and helpful. Their work is top tier and we would strongly recommend their firm.”Related ProjectsView AllFlow Into NatureAlternative Mid-Century ModernTwo-Grid HouseSuffolk, VA …

Bay Ranch II

Bay Ranch IIHampton, VAType/ Residential Time/ 2019-2020 Client/ Private Status/ Under ConstructionThis project is a renovation and addition to a ranch house built in the 1950s on a waterside lot in Hampton, Virginia. The house was originally built by the grandfather of our client, and has since been in the family and has never been put on the market. We are …

Mind Retreat

Mind RetreatNorfolk, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2019Client/ PrivateStatus/ Under ConstructionThis project was initiated as our first Vision Workshop in 2019. The client came to us wanting to add an in-law suite and a pool in the backyard.   Since the in-law suite was only going to be used as such for only one or two months out of the year, we suggested during …

Hybrid House

Hybrid HouseSmithfield, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2018-PresentClient/ PrivateStatus/ Under ConstructionThe Eck House project is a new construction, single family house located in the county of Isle of Wight, Virginia. The project explores using a prefabricated steel structure system for the building envelope, and a traditional wood framing structure for the interior. By using a combination of wood planks and corrugated metal panels, the …

Great Room by A Pool

Great Room by A PoolVirginia Beach, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2018Client/ PrivateStatus/ CompletedThe Carolino family often  has friends and family gatherings at their home.  The get togethers were becoming so much fun they decided to invest in an outdoor living area for everyone to enjoy. The wanted a space they can use year-round, where people can kickback and relax while also being able …

Bay Ranch

Bay RanchDeltaville, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2017-18Client/ PrivateStatus/ DesignOur Bay Ranch project involves an addition to a family vacation home.  Our main goal of this ranch style home renovation design is to increase the square footage to accommodate large bedrooms and a master suite. During our design process, we came up with multiple  approaches to create the addition, based on consideration and …

Kitchen at Center

Kitchen at CenterChesapeake, VAType/ ResidentialTime/ 2017-18Client/ PrivateStatus/ Completedcoming soonBefore & AfterRelated ProjectsView AllVacation at HomeAlternative Mid-Century Modern

Gallery Walk House

Gallery WalkChesapeake, VA Type / ResidentialTime / 2017Client/ PrivateStatus / DesignWith this project, our client (an artist by trade), requested the design to match their taste.  This meant at GARC, we needed to transform the existing Ranch Style home to reflect one that represented a Gothic Revival style. The new exterior design creates a greater sense of arrival, and also leads people …