A former peanut farm fronting on the Nansemond River near Suffolk soon will be home to a family retreat accommodating four homes for a mother, three siblings and their families, a boat house/pier, guest house/pool house, and a future helicopter hangar. Entry to the property is through a heavily wooded path, and the architecture will respect the landscape, peaking out from it, not dominating. The first structure, which was completed in 2018, is a guest house/pool house, serving as the family’s central community space. The 2,100 sf structure is styled as a transitional modern farmhouse with board and batten exterior details. All trusses are structural, and a double-sided board-formed concrete fireplace is at the heart of the structure. The building accommodates a kitchen, dining and living area, guest room and bath. Glass doors open onto the Jerusalem Limestone pool deck, with views to the river.
