We are honored to be included in A South Forty: Contemporary Architecture and Design in the American South, a groundbreaking exhibition now on view at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. Curated by the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, the exhibit showcases the rich and varied contributions of Southern architects to contemporary practice.
Spanning architecture, design, and landscape, A South Forty brings together more than 40 firms whose work is shaped by the unique environmental, cultural, and historical contexts of the American South. As described by the exhibition curators, this is a moment to examine how place-based design is evolving—and what it means to be working in and from the South today.
“When you give yourself to places, they give you yourself back... The more one comes to know them, the more one seeds them with the invisible crop of memories and associations that will be waiting for you when you come back, while new places offer up new thoughts, new possibilities.”
—Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking (via our board)
At VMDO, we believe that architecture begins with a deep respect for place. Based in Charlottesville, VA, and Washington, DC, our work is informed by the layered histories and living landscapes of our region. The Blue Ridge Mountains, the red clay soils of Virginia, and the fall lines of the Anacostia, Potomac, and James Rivers are more than geographic features - they are elemental forces that shape how we build, and why.
Our practice is rooted in the belief that architecture should express a “self-evident fit” with its surroundings. We design in conversation with the communities we serve, bringing together form, material, and use in ways that create not just spaces, but possibilities for belonging. The traditions of this place—its graciousness, revolutionary spirit, and egalitarian ideals - inspire us to pursue beauty that is both purposeful and shared.
Being part of A South Forty is a moment of reflection for our studio. It’s an affirmation that thoughtful, contextual design matters. And that it resonates beyond the boundaries of any single project. We are especially proud to stand alongside so many firms whose work we admire, and whose commitment to place and people is evident in everything they do.
A South Forty is on view through March 2026. If you’re in Washington, DC, we hope you’ll visit and explore this timely and resonant exhibition.
