VCCA is an artists’ retreat, set on a historic and picturesque Normandy style farm. Painters, writers, musicians, and artists of other disciplines come here from all over the world to spend a few weeks working and living in the peaceful setting. Although several new structures have been built for VCCA’s use, the heart of the property is the original farm structures. The artists in residence work in studios that are located in converted barns; and, the director’s residence was in the old farm manager’s house, built in the 1940’s. The Director selected Architectural Partners to help convert this charming house into administrative offices and meeting space, by both remodeling the existing space as well as designing a major addition. She and her board wanted to preserve the character of the old house, but to create an addition that would make a more creative statement.
The addition was designed as a story-and-a-half structure, set on a slight angle from the house and connected to it by a lower, glass connecting element, all in order to keep it from dominating the historic two-story farmhouse. The transparent connector also serves as a passage way along a pedestrian axis that connects the studio barns to the artists’ residences. The gabled and shed roofs of the addition, as well as the metal roof on the connector, reflect the rural vernacular; but, the clean lines and the angle of the addition’s footprint give it a more modern voice. Inside, moldings and other details were matched to tie the old space with the new; and, larger windows, angled walls, and high ceilings announce that you have entered the addition. Colors, textures, and artwork in both the original house and the addition were chosen by the Director and her creative staff, and make a wonderful, lasting impression.