Cooper Robertson breathe fresh life into historic Farmington Country Club

– John Kirk
Cooper Robertson are transforming the historic Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville, Virginia, to make it more inclusive for women, children, families and younger generations.
The buildings at Farmington date back to the 1760s, with the east wing of its clubhouse building having been designed by Thomas Jefferson and the club itself having been established in 1927.
As Cooper Robertson has pointed out, though, "While private-membership clubs [in the US] remain a staple of many affluent communities, they're struggling to stay current and prime the pump for a new, younger demographic of members."
The challenge for Farmington has been to modernise while maintaining its historic appeal, so Cooper Robertson were enlisted to develop a masterplan of short- and long-term improvements to be made to the campus until its hundredth anniversary in 2027.
The project is focussing on several key areas, including the arrival experience and front door, social gathering and dining spaces, sports facilities, locker rooms and guest rooms.
Two social and dining venues have already been as part of a first phase of work, with an existing space having also been renovated, and a new children’s centre has been created so that parents can enjoy activities while their kids are looked after.
Elsewhere, a guest cottage, an outdoor pavilion and new indoor and outdoor tennis courts have been constructed, while renovations and upgrades have been made to its fitness and locker facilities.
"Our first goal in the Farmington masterplan was to reinvent many of the outdated areas of the building to create a more relaxed and informal atmosphere that would appeal to younger members," said John Kirk, partner at Cooper Robertson. "In the second phase, we’ll be building on the club’s growth and expansion and its unique appeal to the members of tomorrow."
Cooper Robertson country club Farmington Country Club Virginia







Swedish architects Wingårdhs create year-round resort with waterpark and hotel for Liseberg

Juneteenth Museum by Bjarke Ingels Group has been designed to inspire spiritual uplift

BIG and HOK's timber concept wins Zurich Airport competition

Christoph Ingenhoven reveals Lanserhof Sylt, featuring the largest thatched roof in Europe

BIG's designs Prague concert hall to be vibrant centre of life

Mather & Co-designed Gretna Green Experience opens to the public

Project to save last major bellfoundry which cast bells for St Paul's and Washington National Cathedral

Perkins & Will reveals designs for net-zero sports and cultural centre in Toronto

World’s first living waterslides announced for Therme Manchester

Heatherwick reveals Volcano-inspired opera house designs for Hainan

Natural history museum planned for Abu Dhabi

Controversial London music venue, MSG Sphere, gets full planning permission

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Glasgow's iconic Burrell Collection reopens after five-year, £68.5m revamp

SB Architects delivers Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica with tree-house spa and private residences

Ole Scheeren designs vertical jungle resort complex in China

Designer Brian d’Souza launches Swell to create evocative soundscapes for physical environments

Basalt Architects create geothermal Forest Lagoon in the wilds of Iceland

Hot Pickle design £73m Guinness visitor attraction for Diageo in London

Amsterdam's new digital art centre Fabrique des Lumières will use tech to bring art alive

Pharrell Williams to launch tropical Bahamian beach resort

Banyan Tree curating solar-powered wellness retreat on private Mozambican island

Dubai Expo hits 10 million visits

Foster + Partners designs Dorchester Collection's first hotel in Middle East

Neil Jacobs reveals Six Senses Places concept for major cities

Orient Express returns to Italy after 46 years with six trains designed by Dimorestudio and new Rome hotel

400-year-old mineral spring will power Preidlhof’s €2m medicinal bath experience

Universal Beijing Resort reveals expansion plans for second phase
