A4 Architecture Blog
Newport Architecture Spotlight: Washington Square – Birthplace of Newport
Newport has been many things over its lifetime: a Gilded Age resort, a post World War II Navy town, and today, an important destination for historic tourism. But at one time Newport was an early colonial settlement that was made prosperous by its excellent harbor and...
Newport Architecture Spotlight: Emmanuel Church, Newport, RI
With the end of Epiphany this past week, the Christian church has entered into Lent, a period of 40 days of reflection and self-denial. With the cold winter we have had here in Rhode Island and the dramatic climate events occurring around the world with increasing and...
Newport Architecture Spotlight: 375 Years of Great Architecture in Newport
As Portsmouth ends the celebration of its founding 375 years ago, Newport’s celebration of the same birthday is just beginning. There are very few communities in America that have been around longer than Newport and none that are better preserved from an architectural...
A4 Guide: A Brief History of Insulation
As the leaves turn brilliant colors and the evening temperatures begin to fall, it is time to think about the value and many advantages of good insulation. Insulation is meant to keep heat out in the summer and in during the winter and is measured in “R-value” (with...
A4 Guide: Understanding Complete Streets
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Washington Square Charrette it is useful to revisit the primary recommendations and review what developments have occurred and what other complementary efforts are underway. Change comes slowly and sometimes the most...
A4 Guide: The Secretary of Interior Guidelines for Preservation
This past year has seen many instances where the issues of preservation and rehabilitation have been in the news and on people’s minds. For those who have not been through the procedure of presenting before the Historic District Commission (HDC), the process is...
A4 Spotlight: 2013 Doris Duke Preservation Awards
Newport Rhode Island is fortunate to have one of the most intact collections of important 18th, 19th, and early 20th century buildings anywhere in America. But these buildings have not survived to the present day simply by not being torn down (although that was a...
A4 Guide: Newport Zoning
Before one can build in Newport, every project must pass a zoning review. Zoning regulations are rules adopted by governments to control the use, density, height, setbacks, and a myriad of other aspects of building. Starting in New York City in 1916, the use of...
Newport Spotlight: Historic Tax Credit Revived
This past week has been a notable one for historic preservation, as the long-idled Historic Tax Credit for restoring historic buildings was revived and passed by the state General Assembly. The new program is a modification of an earlier one that was in effect prior...
Newport Architecture Spotlight: Rosecliff and the Newport Flower Show
Rosecliff (McKim, Mead & White, 1901 Bellevue Avenue Facade (Photo Credits: PSNC) Newport is famous for its grand buildings, many of which are both extravagant and unique. Many of the mansions on Bellevue Avenue in particular were created more for entertaining...
A4 Guide: Public Spaces – Streets and Sidewalks
When most people think about the subject of "Public Spaces," streets and sidewalks are not the first thought - they will often immediately think of parks and public squares. The recent debate about and subsequent renovation of Queen Anne Square shows how much...
Newport Architecture Spotlight: Washington Square
Newport has been many things over its lifetime: a Gilded Age resort, a post World War II Navy town, and today, an important destination for historic tourism. But at one time Newport was a small colonial village that was made prosperous by its excellent harbor and...
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A4 Spotlight: Transportation Oriented Development
A4 Architecture Gateway Design in Newport, RI -Transportation Oriented Development Transportation Oriented Development (TOD) is an urban planning and design concept that emphasizes the integration of land use and transportation to create walkable, mixed-use...
A4 Architecture Spotlight: The History and Urban Importance of Newport’s Long Wharf
Painting of Washington Square and Long Wharf - 1818 One of Newport, Rhode Island’s oldest and most important landmarks is not a building, but a road called “Long Wharf.” When Newport was first founded in 1639 it was settled based on two critical...
A4 Architecture Spotlight: The Rise and Fall of the American Pedestrian Malls Center
Pedestrian malls are areas of a city or town where cars are not allowed and pedestrians have free rein. Pedestrian malls became popular in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s as a way to try to revitalize downtown areas that were struggling due to...
A4 Architecture Spotlight: The Rise and Fall of the American Shopping Mall
For much of the twentieth century the shopping mall was the embodiment of American consumerism, a bastion of capitalism, and an icon of Consumer Economy. But as we approach the second decade of the 21st century, it's clear that the heyday of the shopping mall has come...
A4 Architecture Spotlight: Complete Streets
The concept of "Complete Streets" is a design approach that aims to make streets safer and more accessible for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, public transport users, and motorists. The idea behind complete streets is to create a balanced transportation...
A4 Architecture Spotlight: Building Codes
The recent earthquakes in Turkey have once again highlighted the vital importance of building codes for disaster preparedness. As someone who has spent decades working in the architectural design industry, I can state that they are absolutely essential for ensuring...
A4 Introduction to AI
My fellow citizens, the time has come. The future is here, and it is called ChatGPT. This revolutionary AI chatbot website is here to change the world, and we must embrace it with all our strength and determination. I know that many of you are eager to try ChatGPT for...
A4 Guide: Induction Cooking
Imagine using a cooktop where the pot gets hot, but the stovetop remains cold. Imagine being able to boil water twice as fast as a gas range but without the danger of an open flame. Imagine reducing not only the toxic gases within your home but also reducing the...
A4 Guide: Pros and Cons of Natural Gas
Nearly everyone has come to the conclusion that global warming and severe climate change are both real and serious. Nearly 1/3 of California was listed as being at danger of fire, there are severe storms and flooding elsewhere in the country, and parts of the Arctic...
A4 Architecture Spotlight: Heat Pumps
One of the most interesting technological developments of the last decade, were improvements to heat pump systems. Unlike standard boilers of furnaces, which normally burn either by heating oil or natural gas to generate heat, heat pumps use either the ambient latent...
A4 Spotlight: Renovating in a Historic District
In the realm of architecture change is inevitable. It can come in the form of disintegration or renovation. Buildings are made of imperfect materials and are subjected to rain, snow, heat, and cold. Similarly, as civilization evolves, buildings need to evolve along...
Architectural Spotlight: St. George’s Chapel
The noble, elegant and magnificent architecture of Newport County is not just located in the city of Newport but is found in each of the other five communities that are also part of the county, including Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton and Jamestown....