Invisible Luxury: High-Performance Architecture is Redefining Modern Luxury Homes

Invisible Luxury: High-Performance Architecture is Redefining Modern Luxury Homes

by | Oct 15, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Custom Home, green term defined, Harrisonburg, Indoor Air Quality, LEED, Massanutten Resort

When I started in the architectural industry in 1999 the luxury homes we worked on mostly focused on looks, feel, and wow factor. That has changed dramatically over the last decade. Now our high-performance luxury home clients are focused on how the house will enhance their lives, bring family together, and deliver a space that is healthy, energy-efficient, and durable. Architecturally compelling is still in the conversation, but not at the expense of creating a space that facilitates the life our clients want to live. Our luxury home clients want human-centered, health-focused spaces to live, work, and play.

We noticed the shift from an open floor plan and vaulted ceilings to how will the kitchen flow and can family gather while making meals. The spaces we are designing now think through not only “wow” factor, but also how the space makes you feel warm and comfortable. These spaces have healthy indoor air quality, temperatures are evenly maintained, and they are safe. Not all of these homes are considered to be custom green home design, but that is certainly where it started when we designed the first EarthCraft Certified home in Virginia and followed up with the first LEED for Homes certified home in the Southeastern United States. Now the concepts we incorporate in our net-zero and carbon neutral homes are integrated into almost every home, even if they are not planning solar pv from the start, they want solar-ready design.

We have worked extensively to understand building envelopes and even provide air leakage tests on existing homes to make sure we are addressing the air leaks. Today’s luxury homes feature resilient design, lifetime home strategies, continuous insulation, encapsulated crawl spaces, triple-pane windows, ERVs, high performance HVAC systems, air tight construction, and robust thermal envelopes. When designing in a mixed humid climate specifically in IECC Zone 4A (which includes Charlottesville, Waynesboro, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Winchester, Lexington, Salem, and Roanoke) you have to get the thermal envelope of a luxury home exactly right. The details need to be worked out on paper before construction ever starts. You also need trusted building partners that understand the little details are the hardest.

wide exterior of Casa Cielo during blue hour. The sky rumbles blue with clouds and a golden orange glows from within the window walls.

The conversations around the heating and cooling units include filtration and fresh air. This is not new, but now it is a priority for our clients to the point where we almost always pull in the HVAC company during early design phases. We want to make sure that our HVAC systems are planned into the design and exceed basic ACCA manual J load calculations. We make sure there are not drafty rooms or big temperature changes from space to space. Our local insulator knows our work, we actively talk with the contractors doing the work to make sure we know best practices for installing systems we design, and we practice integrated design.

living room couch. a wall of windows behind overlooking the mountains.
living room with two chairs and a sofa looking out to the views through large windows on three sides.
modern home in Harrisonburg

This is the path to a luxury home. We work as a team, architect, builder, and sub-contractors to deliver the dream home our clients are asking for and make sure luxury is delivered.

Planning a high-performance build in Virginia? Contact our team to schedule an initial design consultation.

Luxury Cabin Architecture

Terms Defined

LEED for Homes

EarthCraft

Resilient design

solar pv

ERV

Lifetime Home strategies

HVAC

encapsulated crawl spaces

air tight construction

indoor air quality

thermal envelope

High School Technical Education is Critical For Our Community

High School Technical Education is Critical For Our Community

by | Oct 14, 2026 | architecture, citizen architect, community, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Local Leaders, Mentorship, Office Culture

A core part of our business strategy is to use our time, skills, and abilities to make our community a better place for all. One of the best returns on investment we can make in this effort is helping the next generation. Charles serves on the MTC foundation and teaches, occasionally, in their summer program. He also helped with the MTC Foundation fundraiser this year running social media and volunteering at the event. Rock the Ridge is the annual fundraiser for the foundation. The foundation uses 100% of the money raised at this event to support Massanutten Technical Center through purchase of equipment and by providing scholarships. This important work supplements the schools budget and gives more opportunities to students in the technical education program.

Rock the Ridge
Rock the Ridge
MTC bistro/kitchen and culinary classroom

High School technical education serves as a primary economic engine for the Shenandoah Valley. Through training in equipment repair, carpentry, HVAC, electricity, and public safety these students will emerge from high school and serve our community. The skills they are learning are hands-on and extremely valuable. An education delivered at MTC gives students specialized skills that will carry them forward in life. Even a carpentry student doesn’t become a framer on a construction crew, the skills learned benefits them in a multitude of ways in the future. We have a particular fondness for the culinary arts program and of course the architecture program. We know that being able to cook amazing food is critical to our happiness. Of course, our bias is that everyone should have exposure to architectural training to allow them to solve complex problems and see the world in a new and vibrant way.

I want to personally thank the entire MTC Foundation committee for their time and energy investment into the students at MTC. This year’s Rock the Ridge featuring Thieves of Burden, Big City Band, and Jack and Davis Reid was amazing.

Support MTC!

If you want to support the MTC foundation and the work being done at the high school level you can make a donation – just send a check to MTC Foundation, 325 Pleasant Valley Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. Stay tuned to MTC Foundation facebook page and Instagram for announcements about Rock the Ridge 2027!

MTC Architecture
Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale – Stewardship Building

Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale – Stewardship Building

by | Oct 13, 2026 | architecture, citizen architect, Empathy, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect

The most beautiful thing about the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale each year is seeing an entire community built for the day at the fairgrounds around a common cause – to do good in the world. It is a chance to catch up with friends, raise money for good work to happen, and enjoy amazing food. We always start with a breakfast that has the best sausage around. The day may also include donuts, ice cream, bbq chicken, Brunswick stew, homemade chips, pies, and cakes. Celebrating craftsmanship is another benefit of this event. Getting a chance to see the quilts, especially those that are hand sewn, is a treat. The woodworking done for this event shows off the skills of our area with beautiful furniture, trucks, and musical instruments.

Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale
Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale

The money raised at this event goes directly to relief, development, and peacebuilding efforts through Mennonite Central Committee. This directly aligns with our mission as an architectural firm to use design to build a better community for everyone. We also strive to design spaces that bring people together – so just sitting and watching how the fairgrounds becomes that space for the day is educational. Watching the teamwork of an auction, the coordination of volunteers for food, the movement of people through spaces all feed our imagination of what and how we can design spaces.

To all those that gave time, money, and energy to make this day amazing, thank you. The preliminary totals show that more than $450,000 was raised which will make a huge impact on many lives locally and around the world. If you want to support the efforts, make a donation here.

Soil is our most important natural resource

Soil is our most important natural resource

by | Oct 12, 2026 | architecture, Custom Home, Green Building

Guest post by Noah Puckett with Agri-Waste Technology. 

Soil is one of our most important natural resources, yet it’s often overlooked and underappreciated. It performs seven general functions: it serves as a medium for plant growth, modifies the atmosphere, provides habitat for countless living organisms, recycles nutrients, supports foundations, holds water, and (most importantly for us at AWT) acts as a living filter for water. We value every one of these functions, but that last one is where we do our work. What happens to your wastewater after you flush? Where does it go, and how does it get cleaned when there’s no treatment plant to send it to? The answer is right beneath your feet. As soil scientists, we evaluate soils to determine their suitability for septic systems. Then, with the help of our engineers, we design and permit systems that safely treat wastewater and return clean water to the environment.

Soil scientist

Niche as our work may be, its importance reaches nearly every community. Whether someone is building their first home, their forever home, a business, a school, or even a community sports complex, wastewater is always part of the equation. For anyone buying, selling, or developing land, a soil evaluation early in the process can reveal what a building lot can support before time and money are committed. Everyone uses the bathroom. It’s a basic human necessity, and that wastewater has to go somewhere. At AWT, we make sure it goes somewhere safe. Our work lets you flush and forget, but now you know that beneath your feet, a carefully evaluated site and a well-designed system are quietly holding, filtering, and moving your wastewater. Pretty amazing, if you ask us. Isn’t soil the best?

Who is Noah Puckett?

Associate Soil Scientist and Roanoke Project Manager

Noah joined AWT as an intern in 2024 and became a full-time Associate Soil Scientist in June 2025. Originally from Oxford, North Carolina, Noah now lives in Salem, Virginia, where he is helping expand AWT’s services in southwest VA and across the state. Noah holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Soil Science from NC State University. Noah developed an interest in soil science after taking an introductory course at NC State and discovering there’s a lot more to soil than meets the eye. Noah conducts soil evaluations, septic system inspections, and assists the engineering team with septic system layouts and detailed soil testing. Noah is a North Carolina Soil Scientist in Training. He is also a licensed Virginia Journeyman Onsite Soil Evaluator (OSE). Noah is currently working toward obtaining his North Carolina LSS, Virginia PSS, and Virginia Master OSE. Outside of work, Noah enjoys mountain biking, fly fishing, and hunting.

More about septic systems from Charles:

Outside of our areas that have public sewer we rely on septic systems and hope we never have to think about them. I met Noah and found him to be an incredible resource for making sure we get the system right up front.

Wastewater leaves the home and enters an underground septic tank where solids settle to the bottom and oil/ grease floats to the top. The liquid effluent flows out into a system called a drain field where the soil does the work of filtering. These systems in our area can cost from $3,000 – $20,000 with many variables coming into play. They can also range in size from 1,000 sf to 5,000 sf and must be held away from your foundation, property line, open bodies of water, and well. The tank needs regular maintenance every 3 to 5 years. The drain field should only have grass on top of it – should not be driven across and should not have trees growing over it. You should also avoid flushing chemicals, grease, garbage, or wipes to help the system stay healthy.

How should I take action to build community?

How should I take action to build community?

by | Oct 10, 2026 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, community, Empathy, Leadership

Community

I am trying to put together an action that is meaningful and will move the needle on this idea that keeps hitting me. On several occasions and from multiple people it has been pointed out to me that we have lost pride in our community and each other. We have lost community. The hate language that continues to be used, bully approach to issues, win-lose mentality, and the dividing of people is getting stronger and breaking us further apart. Yesterday at a presentation I attended the dividing was done in a carefully crafted way and disguised by the speaker, but it was still there. I felt it. I got messages after the meeting because I spoke up. Not loud enough and not clearly enough, but I did speak. The response from the speaker framed me as someone that doesn’t understand development and someone that thinks we should not cut down any trees. I am an architect. I need development to continue. I just want it better designed. This is a prime example of how community is being dismantled. If you question the person in power you are labeled an extremist, a flake, crazy, ignorant.

What if we build communities that everyone can have opportunity. What if we build pride in our community and each other? What if we listened to questions and answers and trusted each other? What if our decisions were for the greater good?

I wrote a blog about it. The loss of civic groups (bowling leagues, membership in Rotary, CSI) all have helped us enter echo chambers. We are fragmented and believe “they” are out to get us. But what if the problem is we are “they” and we are destroying our communities by adding to the echo.

I want to find a way, place, and time to have conversation across race, age, religion, political affiliation, and gender to build trust and friendship. Then we can address the issues where there is really debate that needs to happen. The issues where the right choice is fragile and narrow and will take work to get it right.

Do you have an idea of how and where this can happen? Do you have a suggestion of how I can bring people together to build community?

Imagine that this thing happens and we all cheer on our community like we cheer on our favorite football team. What if we so passionately believe in and trust each other that we reach out to help each other? What if we start thinking about how to support community not to get something in return, but to do something for each other?

Bridging: creating a bonded community

Bridging: creating a bonded community

by | Oct 7, 2026 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, community, Empathy, family, Harrisonburg Architect, Leadership, Local Leaders

I have been reminded over and over these past three weeks that I need to step forward and do something. Our communities are not what I want them to be and I have a responsibility to try to change that reality. We have lost some of our bonded community that once existed. It was probably not perfect then and it will not be perfect in the future, but we need to get back to bonding as a communities. We need to find bridges across lines of age, race, social class, and political belief. Bridges that build social cohesion and shared purpose linking diverse individuals together for the common good.

In his book “Bowling alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community” Robert Putnam argues that the erosion of civic organization – from bowling leagues to PTAs to Rotary Clubs has severely depleted America’s supply of “bridges of social capital.” When these civic organizations thrived, active conveners provided neutral physical and social spaces that prevented retreat into like minded echo chambers. Conveners actively counter the decline of bonded communities by creating shared tables where diverse perspectives can be interacted with face-to-face. When this happens in a structured dialogue communities grow and prosper. Community members start acting in ways that help others without expecting something in return, just trusting that community will be there for them too if needed. This approach breaks down stereotypes transforming ideology about groups into neighbors with recognizable human concerns. Local challenges become community challenges where cross-sector conversations deliver buy-in for the greater good. 

Negotiations are built on relationships and trust instead of a win-lose scoreboard. Larger concerns in the community can be discussed before quick action is needed providing time to evaluation, research, and conversation.

 

Rotary is one place that I see this work happening weekly. I am 100% convinced that we need more voices at the table in Rotary, but those voices that are already at the table are building the community that I want to live, work, and play in. We just need to amplify and multiply those efforts across a larger area.

At our firm we are striving to build community through our work on community centers, accessible housing, childcare facilities, schools, offices, and even luxury homes. We look for ways to bring people together by adding front porches, finding spaces for gathering, and encouraging design for all. From aging in place to ADA to universal design to affordability to energy-efficiency to healthy strategies for buildings we are trying to find ways to bridge over divides and bring people together. We want to support conversation happening through sitting face-to-face and talking, to playing, to listening to music. So we also seek out pro-bono project with local non-profits that are doing this work. We volunteer, design, and donate money to organizations that are building community. We also do this work by showing up at events to network and have conversations, by mentoring students at all education levels, and by being supportive of each other within our firm.

There is more to do. I am feeling a call to work harder at brining conversation together across all boundaries. I am not sure yet what form that will take. I know it needs to happen for this community, our community, our commonwealth, our country, our world to be the place I want it to become for future generations.

If you want to have conversation and build bridges let me know. Perhaps a lunch is the next step. Let me come speak to your civic group. Invite me to talk to your students. Give me a chance to figure out the call I am hearing.

MTC Architecture

Lets build the bridges that bond our community together for the greater good.