A4 Architecture Blog
Newport Architect Spotlight: Wharton/Codman – Newport Architectural Symposium
The fourth annual Newport Architectural Symposium, which was held here last Saturday, focused on the creative interaction between the noted American author Edith Wharton and architect and designer Ogden Codman. These two artistic giants began their careers in Newport,...
Newport Architecture Spotlight: The Ballroom at Marble House
If there is one thing that the great houses of Newport were really built for, it is to throw a party. Many of the great “cottages” are really just enormous entertaining spaces with five and six-bedroom homes attached. One of the grandest ballrooms ever to be built in...
A4 Guide: Sustainable Architecture
Many people are asking themselves two questions given the current state of the world: “How can I can money during the recession?” and “How can I reduce my carbon footprint given the disturbing changes many are seeing in the global environment?” Here are some answers:...
Newport Architecture Spotlight: The Breakers
Newport is known for its stately homes but The Breakers sets the standard for stately homes not just in Newport but for homes built in the nineteenth century everywhere. Designed for Cornelius Vanderbilt II in 1895 by Richard Morris Hunt, one of the greatest...
Newport Spotlight: Newport Architecture and History
The history of Newport (and therefore to a degree the cultural history of America) is written in the architecture of our “City by the Sea.” Unfortunately, that history is written in columns, rooflines, door styles, and a myriad of other architectural elements that are...
Newport Architecture Spotlight: Bois Dore and the Ballrooms of Newport
If there is one thing that the great houses of Newport were really built for, it is to throw a party. Sometimes it seems like the great “cottages” are really just ballrooms with (comparatively) small five and six-bedroom houses attached. Belcourt Castle (until the...
A4 Guide: Flood Preparation
Super Storm Sandy hit America forcefully, both in a physical and in a psychological way. Now that the New York/New Jersey area has been hit by major weather events not just in successive years but (with the winter storm Athena) in successive weeks, many are wondering...
A4 Guide: New Urbanism and Mixed-Use Development
“New Urbanism” is a term that has come into common usage after the foundation of the Congress for New Urbanism in 1993, but the ideas behind this concept are as old as cities themselves — it is just that we had forgotten the principles for a very long time. To...
Newport Architecture Spotlight: Newport Casino
The firm of McKim Mead & White was certainly the most influential and prolific American architectural partnership of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Newport is the proud home of their very first project as the firm McKim Mead & White: the Newport...
Newport Spotlight: Return of Historic Tax Credits
Maintaining and restoring historic buildings is challenging, but it is often these structures that give character and form to beautiful communities like Newport. Thus, there is a strong societal and economic advantage for the government to help assure that these old...
Newport Historical Spotlight: Newport and the Future of Planning
While Newport has been dealing with winter blizzards, behind the scenes, forward progress has been occurring on various planning efforts which will hopefully have impacts on the physical design of Newport in this (and future) summers. After a long absence in the post...
A4 Project Spotlight: 485 Spring Street
LEED Certified Home in Newport County A4 Architecture projects earn high praise from multiple publications. We are pleased to report that A4 Architecture’s project at 485 Spring Street in Newport, Rhode Island was honored with a national EcoHome design award. The...