Project Details
- Project Name
- Citizen 6
- Project Types
- Multifamily
Project Description
FROM AIA VIRGINIA:
Richmond’s storied Fan District, largely a product of
turn-of-the-century prosperity, is renowned for its historic row homes and
period architecture: Italianate, Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque. This
project—six modern row homes in the middle of the Fan—challenged the design
team to strike a balance between the fine architecture of the past and the
present. The result, endorsed by the Fan District Association and aptly named
“Citizen 6,” stewards the neighborhood’s history without replicating its roots.
The half-acre site on the 2600 Block of Floyd Avenue was
originally home to a parking lot and a nondescript office building. As the
design team began the urban infill project, they looked to the neighborhood for
inspiration, paying careful attention to mass, scale, proportion, and
materials. The palette—brick and wood siding—takes cues from surrounding homes,
but with a modern twist: dark gray brick and clear-coated, tongue-and-groove
cedar siding. These striking yet complementary references weave the
contemporary project into the fabric of the historic neighborhood.
The design of the units is clean and thoughtful, with open
floor plans that vary from 2,200 to 3,000 square feet. Without partitioned
rooms, the living spaces flow freely, reflecting a modern way of life that is
both flexible and functional.
The well-established site is located within walking distance
of the Carytown shopping district, the Virginia Fine Arts Museum, and countless
restaurants, shops, and green spaces, promoting a walkable, bikeable lifestyle.
Designed to make a meaningful contribution to the fabric of
the neighborhood, Citizen 6 is a rare example of modern design that harmonizes
with its more traditional neighbors while contributing another layer of
complexity to the Fan’s rich architectural history.
