Elastic, Pure, and Invigorating: A Cottage Row for Yellow Sulphur Springs

Situated between Blacksburg and Christiansburg in Montgomery County, Virginia, the Yellow Sulphur Springs Resort began in 1810 as a collection of rustic cabins and closed in 1923 with two hotels, numerous cottages, a bowling alley, and a springhouse gazebo. In the interim, the resort hosted summer travelers seeking refreshment and leisure. Whether drinking the medicinal spring waters or catching up with last summerâ s acquaintances, guests found Yellow Sulphur to be a peaceful and rejuvenating stop on the springs circuit. Currently, the property is privately owned and its owners have expressed interest in renovating the remaining hotel and opening a restaurant on its first floor.

Presupposing this renovation and a subsequent reopening of the Yellow Sulphur Springs Resort, I proposed a new series of seasonal cottage rows to house resort visitors and have designed one row in particular that overlooks a small spring on the site. Each cottage was divided into public, private, and most private spaces, both formally and systematically. Additionally, a distinction was made between the sulphurous spring water below and fresh rain water, which is collected above, to reflect summer light into the bathrooms following afternoon showers.