DESIGN + PLANNING + PRESERVATION
Created the concept design and construction documents for over 450 homes with a wide range of style and sizes. Communities located in South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama, Florida, Idaho, and Kentucky. As Designer and General Contractor restored over 35 historic houses. Experience in providing schematic drawings, complete construction drawings and details, outline specifications, and general specifications for a variety of commercial and residential projects.
Thorough experience and technical understanding of Form Based Codes, Development Standards, Manuals and Pattern Books and Comprehensive Plans for numerous judiciaries.
Urban Design projects have set standards for Mixed-Use Neighborhood Development. Have been practicing the elements of Smart Growth for over 30 years. One of the first in the region to use Bio-retention and Infiltration as well as associated principles, in all Urban Design and planning projects. Completely familiar with BMP’s and numerous judiciary Stormwater Ordinances.
Natural resource protection and enhancement requirements in most municipalities are minimal. All developments designed have exceeded the judiciary standards. Care was always taken to preserve and enhance natural resources thru the ability to control the Architectural Guidelines, locate significant resources within open space, creation of pedestrian friendly and multi-modular developments, clustering, creating passive traffic patterns, and providing protection of cultural and heritage resources. Work is known for accurate and complete construction documents, high level of construction details and interior details, and clear specifications. High degree of ability to work with General Contractors, Building Officials and Subcontractors in a variety of functions.
40 years experience and forth generation working in design and man-made environment.
Founder of R. Stewart Design, LLC, a Residential Design, Urban Planning Energy Consultation, & Historic Preservation firm.
Urban and Residential Design projects in seven states.Member of the Congress of New Urbanism for 14 years. Past Contributor to Annual Report. Created the concept design and construction documents for over 350 custom homes with a wide range of styles and sizes. Communities located in South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama, Florida, Idaho, New York and Kentucky.
Historic Preservationist and Co-Author of the Historic Preservation Manual for the Town of Bluffton, SC. Certified Building Performance Institute Building Analyst and Envelope Professional. Editor/Owner/Writer for The Bluffton Breeze Magazine. This magazine has 15,000 monthly readers and and 10000 visits to the web site www.bluffton.com The magazine has been published for over 15 years.
Presently, Beaufort County, SC Planning Commission Vice Chairman.
As Designer and General Contractor restored over 35 houses listed on the National Register. Formerly Construction Manager, as Principal of Design/Construction Company, for Savannah Landmark Rehabilitation program in Savannah, Ga., a nationally recognized Victorian District restoration project creating Affordable Housing thru SETA and by training unskilled and unemployed workers.
Former Owner of Barclay Hall Antiques for over 18 years with shops on Factors Wall in Savannah, Ga. and Bay to Bay, Tampa, Fl. Expert in all furniture and accessory design of the Period.
Author of numerous Architectural Guidelines, several hundred editorials and articles concerning history and architecture.
Practitioner and Lecturer on Low Impact Development methods that encourages Sustainable Development and Watershed Protection. Author of “173 Ways to Save Energy” for residential and commercial outreach education for public and private sectors. Author of several hundred published articles on History, Architecture, Environmental Protection, Human Interest, Fiction, Design and Points of Interest for The Breeze Magazine. Design participant in the Bluffton, SC Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Author of the Palmetto Award Application which earned the Town of Bluffton's Wharf Street Project the state award for the most outstanding Affordable Housing Project in the State in 2012.
Winner of Southern Living Home Awards for Best Community Revitalzation for 2014. First Place AIA Georgia, Annual Convention student/professional design competition. Winner of Oldfield Golf Cottage design competition Former Bluffton Historic Preservation Commission Ex-Officio Advisor Formerly a Trustee of The Bluffton Historic Preservation Society. Former Board Member of The May River Theater, a community theater in Bluffton, SC. Have also acted in The Producers, and Fantasticks and Man of La Mancha. Work has been featured in numerous articles and periodicals that include South Carolina Homes and Gardens, Low Country Homes, Florida Homes and Gardens, The Bluffton Breeze, Better Homes and Gardens and Wiregrass Living Magazine.
