Lock Island Compound

One of few Richard Neutra-designed homes on the East Coast the “Rice House” has received widespread attention since its design in 1963. To honor Mr. Neutra’s vision in its renovation, a detailed study was conducted of the original design and construction process through drawings and correspondence that had been carefully preserved. New materials were sourced from the original suppliers such as marble building stone, sliding glass doors, rosewood paneling, and terrazzo flooring, consistent with the historic palette. For the interior, unobstructed views were created by removing partitions at the previously divided kitchen and pantry, and at the large wood-clad bar room. Other features include a hidden, pivoting wall to the primary bedroom, and a new skylight at the dining room that washes the stone wall with sunlight. Further, an unused dining patio was reimagined as an entrance, with the addition of staggered floating stone treads that curve upward towards a floating plane that acts as a bridge between the landscape and the house and allows visitors to take in views of the James River immediately upon entering the home. Additions to the landscape include a linear pool and terrace, a garage/studio that emerges as a garden wall to visitors, and the introduction of plant species Neutra himself had originally identified for this project. This renovation not only modernizes the Rice House but also strengthens its status as a National Historic Landmark, demonstrating a mindful balance between historic preservation and modern innovation.

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The jury appreciated the thoughtful restoration of the Neutra house and the very precise, surgical interventions that pay homage to the original design, but don’t try to copy the original. Rather it tried to understand the original design and extend it through interventions.

//framework for design excellence measures
Measure 1: Design for Integration
This project was approached with a high degree of reverance and exacting attention to detail all in the spirit of preserving and enhancing Mr. Neutra’s original concept, while adapting it to contemporary functions and performance goals. Occupying an important place in the canon of modern architecture, this structure continues to inspire with its dramatic setting and its ability to blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors allowing it to serve its new owners and their guests, as well as future generations of researchers and scholars. The abundance of natural lighting and ventilation allow it to provide a comfortable environment without the need for powered systems for much of the year if desired and new, high-effiency systems exceed accepted performance criteria and minimize the home’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Measure 2: Design for Equitable Communities
While this project is a component of a single-family residential property, it is interestingly connected to broader design for equitable communities. The land transaction which made the project possible included a significant gift to the Science Museum of Virginia for programming and outreach. As part of this, the property has also been made available for events and research which engage the broader public.
Measure 3: Design for Ecosystems
This project is truly a celebration of the James River, oriented specifically to celebrate long views, upriver and broad views, across the river – all while maintaining the high-ground, avoiding the adjacent flood plain and exceeding resource management requirements for the Cheseapeake Bay Act. Alongside that, an extensive and diverse palette of native plants were used in the execution of the landscape. Overall, the project massing and integration into the landscape were guided by Neutra’s theory of “Biorealism” which celebrates the inseparable relationship between man and nature.
Measure 4: Design for Water
This project contributes to a healthy regional watershed by limiting work to outside of the designated Chesapeake Bay Act Resource Protection Areas and minimizing impervious coverage in its footprint. Rainwater is directed into the surrounding landscape via a rain chain system and permeable paving reduces runoff allowing percolation back to root systems and groundwater sources. The building utilizes low-water usage fixtures and does not rely on the public water system and a green roof at the Garage/Studio further reduces the site’s impervious surface.
Measure 5: Design for Economy
The original home featured outmoded elements such as a fallout shelter and servants’ quarters which afforded flexibility in accommodating high-efficiency climate control systems and other contemporary needs. The open floor plans offer a high degree of functional flexibility in both the main house and the garage studio.This design for flexibility will also ensure that the building can adapt with minimal resource requirements as needs evolve. The client was also mindful of long-term maintenance and operating costs, and the design team selected highly durable interior and exterior materials, insulation which far exceeds code requirements, and high-efficiency equipment.
Measure 6: Design for Energy
The project introduced extensive high-performance, insulated glazing, where it was previously single-pane, that is generally oriented toward the south and west, with deep overhangs for solar shading. Daylighting is the predominant light source, and clerestory windows and skylights are utilized to provide fill-lighting and minimize interior glare. Materials with high thermal mass are utilized throughout which store thermal energy and minimize temperature swings. Large, operable glazed openings along the east, south, and west elevations allow for cross ventilation and the reflecting pools located adjacent to them enhance the cooling condition.
Measure 7: Design for Well-Being
The home was conceived as part of a dramatic landscape surrounded by water. Its position above an escarpment affords amazing views up and down the river and the addition of a new terrace and pool reinforce the notion of cascading planes. The Garage/Studio is designed as a retreat – one which provides a destination in the landscape and which celebrates its dramatic setting. It is intentionally set away from the main residence as a place to share the experience of its remarkable location in a smaller setting. All materials selected were chosen for low-VOC content and durability.
Measure 8: Design for Resources
Understanding that the structures will likely outlive the current owners and their current uses, design for flexibility was a driver in the design — as that will dramatically reduce resource usage and environmental impacts over the building’s full life-cycle. Alongside that, building materials were locally sourced, where possible, and a skilled group of local tradespeople provided all construction services.
Measure 9: Design for Change
An icon of modern architecture, the refurbished home maintains an appeal that endures today, 70 years after its original construction. The remarkable site, situated 40’+ above the floodplain, ensures this structure will avoid future flooding concerns inherent in neighboring properties. The open floorplan allows for a flexibility of use and adaptation to the changing tastes and functions of future occupants. Its abundant use of deep overhangs, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and integration of natural light may supersede the need for artificial lighting and mechanical heating/cooling in the event of a power outage.
Measure 10: Design for Discovery
The expansive site and open floor plans allow flexibility for future uses. To reinforce the sense of discovery and delight, the site is entered by crossing a bridge and following a curving drive that gently ascends past the “hidden” garage/studio to arrive at the main house. The relationship with the client is such that over the course of this project other business engagements were formed, and celebration of the projects’ successes have been genuinely shared. And, while informal, the owners are routinely engaged in post-occupancy performance discussions, the content of which are shared with the design team.
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