by Ross Cann AIA RA | Feb 25, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Climate Change, Sustainable Design
House with a Whole-House generator in a neighborhood with an outage This past week, many New England communities were struck by a winter Nor’easter, bringing record amounts of snow and electrical outages. We were among those affected, receiving a stark reminder of how...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Feb 18, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Climate Change, Sustainable Design
Banff National Park Wildlife Overpass, Canada (2006) Architecture has two components: the building and the setting. As responsible citizens, A4 Architecture and the Newport Architectural Forum are both strong supporters of initiatives that lead to greater...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Feb 11, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Historical, Newport Spotlight, Sustainable Design
West Facade (Courtesy of The Chanler) Perched above Newport’s first beach at the entry to famous Cliff Walk, The Chanler at Cliff Walk is more than just a luxury hotel; it is a model for the adaptive reuse of a historic structure. Originally known as Cliff Lawn, this...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Feb 4, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Historical, Newport Spotlight, Sustainable Design
There are two types of mansions in Newport, Rhode Island: those prominent buildings located along Bellevue Avenue, which seek to showcase their grandeur to the public, and those along the winding Ocean Avenue that are located on large secluded lots and largely hidden...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Jan 28, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Guide, Historical
Sainte Chapelle (Paris, France, Built 1248) People often think of architecture as the “background” of our lives, but to architects, buildings are complex systems and artistic creations. Just as a novelist uses syntax to convey plot or a composer...
