Architect | Design Principles | Philosophy | The Cushman Design Group, Inc. Stowe, VT

Design Principles

The Cushman Design Group, Inc. provides integrated architectural design services, specializing in all aspects of high quality residential, commercial, interior, site planning and landscape design. We are committed to design excellence and achieve it with a balance of creativity and technology coupled with attention to our clients´ budgetary and programmatic requirements. We listen with extraordinary attention to personal details and are skilled in transforming this into an...

architectural form and sensitive site development.

Our work is site specific. The energy and nature of the site, be it a urban or a rural context, solar orientation, topography, view corridors, the natural flora and fauna, adjacent building type and use are fully incorporated into a master plan. This plan develops a continuity between the historical and future uses of the land, as it addresses our clients´...

immediate, mid-range and long-term goals and vision.

The architecture we create is contextual. We seek to produce designs that are durable and endurable; classic without necessarily being traditional. Our designs enhance the discussions of refuge (the quality of being secure) and prospect (the quality of extended vision). Most people know us by our fluent use of...

natural daylighting and transparency, a sensitivity to seasonal rhythms, and by the highly functional aspects of the spaces we design. We also acknowledge the sacredness of everyday spaces. Our design solutions reflect the intuitive and rational intelligence of our clients. Therefore, our work expresses more of our clients´ creative and cultural diversity than an indication of a signature design style for the firm.

One way we achieve success in integrating the building architecture with the landscape is through the use of courtyards and outdoor rooms which are formed by encompassing architectural elements. Mystery can be achieved by using multiple buildings to create a compound, and thereby establishing a journey - both vehicular and pedestrian - between the elements.

We believe that environmental...

stewardship relates not only to honoring the history of the site, but to the technologies employed in building construction. Our goal in satisfying this mandate is energy efficiency through the use of regionally available, durable natural materials. We are fascinated with the uniqueness of regional ecosystems and consequently design in many areas of this country using local building materials, contextual details and construction methodologies.

Over the past twenty-eight years we have worked on projects throughout North America. These include residential projects in Maine, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, Oregon, Alaska, Florida and Vermont, the rebuilding of an historic inn on St. Croix, U.S.Virgin Islands, and the development of the National Outdoor Leadership School campuses in Alaska and Utah. For each of these projects, we have developed good, ...

solid professional and honest relationships with local and regional contractors, craftsmen and suppliers. We regularly collaborate with other firms including The Design Group in Warren, Vermont and Truex Cullins in Burlington, Vermont.

Fundamentally, we bring to the project what we consider to be the most important attributes of an architectural firm: creativity, communication skills and technical ability; professional commitment...

and responsibility; extensive experience; and a sensitivity to the physical, economic, social and historical contexts of the project. Our special concerns are: environmental responsiveness, personal and corporate details, accessibility, natural building materials and energy efficiency.