<strong>Found</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lost</strong> <strong>Rabbit</strong> Best <strong>in</strong> <strong>Mississippi</strong> is a colonial masterpiece Bang<strong>in</strong>g garbage can lids does not great music make. It also can be said, size and over-the-top extravagance does not make a great house. “Like beautiful art and music, there are certa<strong>in</strong> properties humans identify with. Beautiful architecture has to be well crafted with rich materials and timeless patterns,” says builder David A. Turner, owner <strong>of</strong> Susta<strong>in</strong>able Construction Inc. That expla<strong>in</strong>s why the judges <strong>in</strong> the 2008 Best <strong>in</strong> <strong>Mississippi</strong> Build<strong>in</strong>g & Remodel<strong>in</strong>g Awards were so taken with Turner’s three entries, two s<strong>in</strong>gle-family homes <strong>in</strong> the Town <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lost</strong> <strong>Rabbit</strong> and a major renovation project <strong>in</strong> the Belhaven community <strong>of</strong> Jackson. Each was a w<strong>in</strong>ner: Best <strong>in</strong> <strong>Mississippi</strong> Grand Award; Best S<strong>in</strong>gle-Family New BY HEIDI KETLER Construction Custom <strong>Home</strong> 1,800-2,500 Square Feet; and Best S<strong>in</strong>gle-Family Remodel<strong>in</strong>g Entire <strong>Home</strong>. The real head turner was the 3,000- square-foot home, designed by Barranco Architecture P.L.L.C. us<strong>in</strong>g tenets <strong>of</strong> classic colonial architecture. In the Town <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lost</strong> <strong>Rabbit</strong> <strong>in</strong> Madison County, it stands a proud testament to authentic details, quality materials and true artisanship. “I love the subtle choice <strong>of</strong> material use,” says Turner. “The old Chicago brick foundation, the slate ro<strong>of</strong>, the copper ro<strong>of</strong> and gutters, the mahogany wood shutters and gas lanterns. The subtle mix <strong>of</strong> materials re<strong>in</strong>forces the architectural l<strong>in</strong>eage and comb<strong>in</strong>es with the historical style to create an elegant home.” What dist<strong>in</strong>guishes a good builder from a great builder is the ability to pull together the classical architectural details, accord<strong>in</strong>g to Turner. He po<strong>in</strong>ts to the ro<strong>of</strong>, “accented with elegantly designed, properly proportioned cornice details. Precise w<strong>in</strong>dow siz<strong>in</strong>g and arrangement. The way the shutter panels <strong>in</strong>tegrate at the top <strong>of</strong> the porches. Sid<strong>in</strong>g details, like the w<strong>in</strong>dow casement. Over-sized corner boards.” Reflections <strong>of</strong> traditional design elements are at every turn. Inside, classical w<strong>in</strong>dow trim, mold<strong>in</strong>gs and a masonry fireplace are examples. Outside, they <strong>in</strong>clude large overstated n<strong>in</strong>e-over-n<strong>in</strong>e w<strong>in</strong>dows, custom mahogany shutters, brick porch floors and an English copper lantern. For all <strong>of</strong> its richness, the sum-total is graceful and understated, says Turner. “No one th<strong>in</strong>g screams at you. I’ve found that very <strong>in</strong>trigu<strong>in</strong>g about the house. It speaks well <strong>of</strong> the owners. They didn’t try to be ostentatious. It’s well designed and well proportioned. It turned out to be an elegant, yet very comfortable home.” The kitchen is a good example. All <strong>of</strong> the Sub-Zero/Wolf appliances – from the refrigerator to the w<strong>in</strong>e cooler and dishwasher – are so well <strong>in</strong>tegrated, they can hardly be dist<strong>in</strong>guished from the custom cab<strong>in</strong>etry. Right at home The Grand Award w<strong>in</strong>ner’s architectural pedigree complements the vision for the Town <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lost</strong> <strong>Rabbit</strong>, a traditional neighborhood development (TND). TND is the product <strong>of</strong> “New Urbanism,” the revival <strong>of</strong> “the lost art <strong>of</strong> placemak<strong>in</strong>g,” and promotes the creation and restoration <strong>of</strong> compact, walkable, mixed-use cities, towns and neighborhoods. Charleston, New Orleans, Battery Park and Nantucket are among the classic communities that serve as models for new urbanism. The Town <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lost</strong> <strong>Rabbit</strong> is located on 260 wooded acres between Natchez Trace Parkway and the 33,000-acre Ross Barnett Reservoir. TND pioneer Duany Plater- Zyberk & Co. designed the community with a unique blend <strong>of</strong> homes, town homes, condom<strong>in</strong>iums, <strong>of</strong>fices, shops and amenities for residents and visitors. It comes with generous sidewalks, abundant open public spaces and an “old-fashioned” town center with a 120-slip mar<strong>in</strong>a. Because architectural details <strong>of</strong> the dwell<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lost</strong> <strong>Rabbit</strong> are crucial, only a select group <strong>of</strong> builders and architects See BEST IN MISSISSIPPI on page 9 4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 MISSISSIPPI BUILDER
MISSISSIPPI BUILDER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 5
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