Is Wellness Architecture the New Luxury Architecture?

Is Wellness Architecture the New Luxury Architecture?

by | Feb 24, 2026 | architecture, Building Science, Charlottesville, Custom Home, Green Building, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect

The definition of “luxury” home has shifted dramatically since I entered the industry in 1999. The focus of many of the homes we designed in the 2000’s was “bigger is better” and gables-on-gables drove design. Then I started seeing energy-efficient home technology start changing the goals of our clients in the luxury home market. This grew exponentially as our understanding of the house as a system became mainstream. The days of building the way “we have always done it” came to a quick end for anyone that wanted a custom luxury home.

Since the pandemic, the dramatic shift we have seen is a strong focus on wellness architecture with a strong building science interest from most clients. Wellness architecture brings in biophilic concepts, indoor environmental quality, and proper ventilation systems. This science-based approach to the built environment acknowledges a simple truth: our homes are the primary “skin” we live in, and they have a profound impact on our quality of life.

 

When we design for wellness, we infuse empathy, building science, and care into the aesthetic decisions we are making when creating your dream home.

There are several aspects of this design approach that need to be addressed: access to daylight, indoor air quality, humidity control, chemical off gassing, natural materials, and functional spaces. We think through not only the views, but the types of light each room will have through the day. Indoor air quality and humidity control are critical to consider when right sizing the HVAC system and picking the right ventilation strategy. We protect the quality of the air by checking the chemicals in the materials we are using to avoid toxic off gassing in a tight envelope home. Finally, making sure the HVAC system not only keeps you comfortable but also brings in the appropriate amount of fresh air.

This idea of designing a home that helps you with your physical and mental health has become a normal approach for our luxury homes. Clients are seeking refuge in their dream homes and even if they don’t express their desire for a healthy home as a priority, their description of their dream home includes many of these strategies. We are thrilled to be able to do this type of work as a way to protect you and your family for generations to come.

Architectural Site Visit: Importance in Design Phase

Architectural Site Visit: Importance in Design Phase

by | 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…

Rockingham County Timber Frame House: Project Update

Rockingham County Timber Frame House: Project Update

by | Nov 5, 2025 | Accessibility, aging in place, architecture, Building Science, Custom Home, Green Building, Harrisonburg Architect

What an amazing opportunity we are given to design places for people to build memories and live a full life. It is humbling to walk through an almost finished home that we designed with our clients. Seeing the energy and excitement they have to live in a space they have been dreaming about is contagious. This Rockingham County Timber Frame House is just about finished and we will certainly have more photos. I just wanted to give you a sneak peak at some of the cool details included in this lifetime home.

The care and craftsmanship that is put into building what we designed will blow you away. It is an honor to work with companies like Herr and Company that not only execute the plan but ask questions along the way to make sure we are both delivering the best possible solutions. The collaboration that exists between architect and builder can make or break a project.

The exterior walk in shower at this house will make cleaning off after a dip in the pool quick and easy.

The custom built cabinetry by Grey Fox Design Works and Rocktown Urban wood is breathtaking.

Rockingham County Timber frame

The floating stairs that play with light is such a beautiful touch.

Of course the heavy-timber in the main living space is spectacular and the lighting support over the dining table (designed by our client) is pretty cool.

The guest bath is an oasis of relaxation.

The Elevator makes it possible to live fully on both levels for a lifetime.

Rockingham County Timber frame
Rockingham County Timber frame

The grab bars are there, but you might not notice them.

And this closet – wow!

Chemically sensitive Custom Home

Chemically sensitive Custom Home

by | Oct 20, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Custom Home, Green Building

Bailey Builders has started construction on a new custom home for a chemically sensitive client in Augusta County. This new home has to be healthy for our clients, energy-efficient, and durable. The challenge is that many of the cost effective materials available have chemicals that might impact indoor environmental quality for our client.

As we worked through the design process, we tested various materials to see how our client would react to them if used inside her home. We designed a tight envelope and specified a HVAC system that would clean the air.

Our design strategy was to keep the floorplan open and allow for easy cleanup when coming in from the barn. This custom home is just a place to recharge as our clients care for their animals.

While on our site visit we were able to finalize some color options for the exterior of the home. This one will be beautiful.

Rockingham County Custom Home project update

Rockingham County Custom Home project update

by | Oct 10, 2025 | Accessibility, aging in place, architecture, Building Science, Charles Hendricks, Custom Home, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality, Interior Design

A lifetime home is an incredible design opportunity for us to take on with our clients. As we started this Rockingham County custom home it became very clear that our clients wanted intentional and meaningful spaces. Our designs focused on quality of life and we are using the architecture to provide a backdrop for a lifetime of memories. In our design kick-off meeting we discussed daily habits, life values, and dreams for the kind of childhood their child could experience. We laughed about stories they remembered growing up and the special places that they remembered. This is the heart of a custom home design process for us, we want to know our clients so we can join them on their journey to finding their dream home.

Rockingham Custom Home

We gave a homework assignment to find inspirational photos of places they loved and the types of spaces that will give them energy. We balanced their goals and desires with building science and functional solutions for living spaces. We included thoughts of fun spaces, healthy and invigorating spaces, and spaces that will sooth their souls. As the design process unfolds we developed some visuals to verify the home we are designing is their dream home.

We have also visited their building site and worked to balance the slope of the land, water drainage, views, and arrival sequence for guests. This holistic process of learning our clients dreams takes time and attention. There is empathy and care infused in every decision we make along the way. It is a true gift to be able to do this and call it work. We love solving the design puzzle for our clients. We don’t just create blueprints, we infuse our clients values into their projects. Stay tuned for more photos as the design progresses.

Ready to get started on your own lifetime home? Click below to let us know! We can’t wait to hear from you!

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Rockingham Custom Home
Rockingham County Custom Home
Finding the right architect for your Environmentally Sensitive Dream Home

Finding the right architect for your Environmentally Sensitive Dream Home

by | Sep 15, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality

It can be tricky to find the right architect for your environmentally sensitive dream home. Building a custom home is a journey. Building a truly environmentally sensitive home is a quest. You’ve likely spent countless hours researching everything from geothermal heating to the embodied carbon of concrete. Now, the most crucial step is finding an architect who can translate that passion into a home that is both a beautiful sanctuary and a model of sustainability that fits the local environment. In our case, a mixed humid climate.

Your architect should be someone that understands the national research, building science, and local climate balanced with the abilities and standards of available local contractors. They will work with the land, the climate, the materials, and your lifestyle to create a single, integrated system. As you interview potential partners for this quest, here are the five key questions that will help you find the right architect for your dream home:

1. How does your design process work through building science for the local climate and our goals for beauty and budget?

This is an important question as you can always install more expensive systems that are often spoken about in national research. These national design standards work great for their prescribed goals but often add unneeded costs to achieve a high performance, healthy, and durable home that will last a lifetime. Common sense building science is often the most effective solution for design. Using advanced design standards will also work if budget is not considered.

2. How do you evaluate and select materials based on their durability, availability, and environmental impact?

Sustainability is about more than just “recycled” or “natural” materials. A knowledgeable architect will be fluent in the language of building materials. They will know products to recommend that will achieve your goals and be willing to research new solutions when needed.

3. Can you describe your process for integrating systems through the design process?

A high-performance home is a complex machine where the building envelope (insulation, windows, air sealing) and the mechanical systems (HVAC, water heating) must work in perfect harmony. Knowing that your architect has systems and standards for achieving a healthy, energy-efficient, and long-lasting design solution is critical for your new dream home.

4. What is your philosophy on integrating the home with the site?

A home’s position, location, and orientation on the building site will have incredible impacts on its lifetime performance. Making sure your architect will work holistically with the land to minimize site disturbance while maximizing views, solar access, and water management is critical to a successful environmental design.

5. Can you share past successful environmentally focused design projects?

Making sure your team has experience and successful projects that achieve your goals is important. While every new custom house has new challenges that need to be solved, a deep experience doing environmental design is critical to a successful dream home.

Finding the right architect is about finding a co-creator who shares your values. Their answers to these questions will tell you everything you need to know.