Tiny House Revolution

by Charles Hendricks | Feb 17, 2026 | architecture, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, project update

We are working on several tiny homes this year which is a trend we have seen growing since 2020. The idea of a smaller home isn’t just a focus on downsizing, but rather it’s a focus on upscaling your intentionality. Beauty is even more critical in a small space, but also, the building science and functionality of the spaces we create are hyper-important.

When we start a tiny house project the first step is to make sure the project works on the site our client is proposing. There are some minimum size standards in building code that we have to conform to, but there is also zoning considerations. Often tiny homes are placed on non-conforming lots or as ADU’s (accessory dwelling units). As we start designing we work out how to make the small spaces feel spacious and connected to the outside. We do this using large windows, tall spaces or vaults, and focus on natural light. If we can provide spaces that are highly functional and adaptable the space will feel comfortable and not confined.

This movement to smaller homes that are highly designed is a fun challenge. We have to work hard to make sure every square foot is intentional and the interior selections highlight the livability of the spaces. Infusing our understanding of building science makes these small spaces high performance machines. Building in the density allowed by a tiny home improves affordable housing options in our community.

Emotional Cues and Intense Listening Deliver a Truly Custom Home

by Charles Hendricks | Jan 21, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Custom Home, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Interior Design, Roanoke, Roanoke Architect

I know that the most successful custom home designs don’t start with a sketch. They start with an open conversation and intense listening to goals, passions, and interests.

While the architectural concept is very important for every project we engage, that vision is not the driving factor if you leave the designer’s ego behind. The best custom homes are developed around our client’s dreams and goals instead. The only way to deliver this type of solution is to move beyond just listening to your clients to a deeper level of hearing, infused with years of experience and knowledge of design thinking. Digging a little deeper into the number of rooms and learning the “why” someone wants something delivers a dream solution. It is not just a kitchen; it is the heart of the home. It is not just a primary bathroom; it is a luxury oasis that allows escape to decompress from the stress of the world.

We search for unspoken pain points and places that make the home flow better. We think through how the space will feel and function and how emotion plays into the design. We listen to how space can facilitate the dream life and use our experience to sculpt a solution into a functional home.

A custom home is an extension of the life our client dreams of living. This has a high emotional investment, and they are asked to be vulnerable to imagine what is possible. While our clients can’t give a clear architectural solution, often them describing what works and doesn’t work in their lives, allows the design to become very evident in our minds.

This work of listening allows us to take emotional cues and dreams and translate them into tangible design elements that frame views, buffer noise, and mix textures. When we show the design sketch and our client’s eyes light up we know we truly heard their dream. The foundation of trust continues to build with each conversation.

Ultimately, our role isn’t just to design a house; it’s to design the home that creates the backdrop for our client’s life story.

The “Starter Home” is Dead But a New American Dream Will Rise

by Charles Hendricks | Jan 16, 2026 | aging in place, architecture, family, Multifamily Design

We have all heard the “American Dream” of a white-picket-fenced yard surrounding our 1,600 sf brick 3 bedroom 2 bath home with a deck and big backyard. That sounds amazing in 1980 when that dream cost around $55,000. With the average income of that era you could easily qualify for a 30-year mortgage and still take a family vacation. As we move into 2026 that same home will cost around $500,000 if you can even find one for sale. With the median income in 2026 for a family the stretch mortgage is in the range of $350,000. As a result a townhouse has become the new “starter home” and even that can be a stretch as demand outpaces construction. With short supply and high demand for home ownership, we are seeing the average age of a first time home buyer go up from 1980 when it was 29 to today where the average is 40.

As we see the demand for townhouses to fill the void for first time home buyers, we are also seeing a growing demand for luxury townhouse solutions. Families are making these communities that now offer clubhouses, community pools, landscape maintenance, playgrounds, and dog parks their lifetime homes. In 2025 townhouse construction hit a record market share of over 18% of all single-family home starts.

Is there a better way?

Another approach that is emerging in many communities is multi-generational dream homes, accessory dwelling units, and tiny houses. Each of these bring flexibility to the dream. The ADU backyard movement provides diversity of housing in a community at a lower price point. It can be used as an ADA compliant unit or a secondary income to support a higher mortgage. The tiny home enables a lower price point for purchase of a home with the option to do an addition in the future if needed. We are working on multiple projects that fall into each of these categories.

The new American Dream builds a stronger future

The new American Dream often brings a higher level of design than the 1980 brick ranch adding style, durability, energy-efficiency, and indoor environmental quality as driving factors. The new dream brings families together, builds stronger communities, and deepens a focus on quality over quantity. I am excited to see the future we are shaping with these innovative project types.

The Backyard Revolution: How Harrisonburg’s New ADU Ordinance will Strengthen Our Community

by Charles Hendricks | Jan 9, 2026 | aging in place, Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg has been working on an updated zoning ordinance for several years now. One of the provisions I am excited about and hope to see adopted soon is the increase in density changes allowing Accessory Dwelling Units on most single-family lots.

Creating Attainable Options

Affordability isn’t just about lower price tags; it’s about diverse housing types. By allowing “granny flats” or backyard cottages, Harrisonburg is opening the door for “missing middle” housing. These smaller footprints are inherently more affordable to build and maintain. For homeowners, an ADU provides a reliable stream of rental income that helps offset rising mortgage costs. For renters, it offers a high-quality living space in established, walkable neighborhoods that might otherwise be out of reach.

A Healthier, More Connected City

A healthy city is a compact one. By increasing density within existing neighborhoods, we reduce the need for urban sprawl, which in turn protects our surrounding Shenandoah Valley farmland. This “infill” development encourages a healthier lifestyle by making the city more walkable and bikeable. Furthermore, ADUs support multigenerational living—allowing seniors to age in place near family or providing young professionals a starting point—which fosters stronger social bonds and mental well-being.

Built-in Sustainability

From a design perspective, ADUs are a win for the environment. A smaller home requires fewer materials to build and significantly less energy to heat and cool. When we utilize existing infrastructure—like Harrisonburg’s current water and sewer lines—we maximize the efficiency of our city’s resources.

This ordinance isn’t just about adding sheds to backyards; it’s about building a durable, inclusive future for the Friendly City.

Architectural Site Visit: Importance in Design Phase

by Charles Hendricks | Jan 7, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Commercial Architect, Custom Home, Green Building, Harrisonburg, Lake Monticello, Massanutten Resort, Roanoke

We traveled all over Virginia and West Virginia in 2025 checking out building sites, offering input on project location, collecting data needed for design, and enjoying some incredible views. We love getting out of the office to help your clients better understand their property opportunities. From renovation to new construction, getting to go see the site is a huge benefit when we are designing a custom solution for our clients.

An architect’s presence on-site is crucial for several reasons:

Understanding Topography: Seeing the natural slope and soil conditions firsthand prevents costly structural surprises later.
Capturing Environmental Context: Only by standing on the land can an architect truly map the path of the sun, the direction of prevailing winds, and the unique framing of local views.
Problem Solving in Real-Time: Site visits allow architects to collaborate with contractors, resolving discrepancies between the “perfect” drawing and the physical constraints of the earth.
Learning from Existing Conditions: Having a chance to stand in the space and think through flow, views, structural restrictions, water flow, and opportunities is critical in the design process.

Ultimately, a building doesn’t exist in a vacuum. By immersing themselves in the site, architects ensure the final design is not just a structure, but a thoughtful response to its surroundings. The list is long for all the places we worked this year including Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Rockingham, Brandywine, Bergton, Fulks Run, Newport News, Portsmouth, Heathsville, Richmond, Crozet, Afton, Lake Monticello, Fluvanna, Augusta, Quicksburg, Lynchburg, Waynesboro, to Staunton.

We are so incredibly lucky to get to work with our clients to develop their dreams at some of the most incredible building sites across the Commonwealth of Virginia and in West Virginia – even when they are a little harder to get down the slope to measure existing conditions…