--- title: "Hays + Ewing Design Studio — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/hays-ewing-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~377857768 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~377857768.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Hays + Ewing Design Studio" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/cfe309a502f2548f_0121-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "609 East Market St., Suite 203, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, United States" latitude: 38.0266 longitude: -78.4804 phone: "(434) 979-3222" website: http://www.hays-ewing.com rating: 5 review_count: 18 best_of_houzz_awards: 3 followers: 228 last_updated: 2026-09-23 --- # Hays + Ewing Design Studio Original Houzz profile: [Hays + Ewing Design Studio](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/hays-ewing-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~377857768) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Charlottesville, VA - **Serves:** Virginia Beach, Arlington, Richmond, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Lake Monticello, Hollymead, Earlysville, Ivy, Wintergreen, Keswick, North Garden, Free Union, Palmyra, Nelson County, Northern Virginia, Virginia - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (18 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2015–2016), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 10,000 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - Eco-friendly - 16 years in business We believe enduring architecture springs from a deep understanding of the place, the needs of the project and the desires of our client’s merged with an ecological, cultural and aesthetic intelligence. Founded in 2004, Hays + Ewing Design Studio has focused on the careful integration of buildings with their environment. This focus operates at several levels — in harmonizing buildings with their surroundings, and in the integration of building and natural systems, such as cooling through natural ventilation, rainwater collection, and harnessing energy from the sun. The breadth of the project types and scales, is evidence of our ability to tackle diverse projects and places with a clear vision specific to each. Over the years, we have worked on a variety of types of projects including academic and cultural institutions, commercial buildings, mixed-use projects, single and multi-family residential as well as planning projects. With a global architectural background, both Hays and Ewing have lived and worked in Europe, Asia as well as the United States. Both have worked on award winning projects with Cesar Pelli, Renzo Piano and more recently as partners with William McDonough. Currently, our studio has projects underway in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Arizona. Hays + Ewing Architects and Planners has been at the forefront of the green design movement with thirty years of collective experience in the field. We have worked on numerous projects recognized for their excellence in sustainable design and commitment to ecological principles. We are currently working on a mix of houses with regard to size and budget. Our project in Virginia Beach, Virginia takes advantage of stunning views with a second story covered terrace. The house is designed around the highly energy-efficient passivhaus principles. We are close to completing a house in Amherst County Virginia. The solar array on the house will power the majority of the house's energy use. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - House Plans - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Sustainable Design - Energy-Efficient Homes - Floor Plans - Green Building - Space Planning - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Universal Design - Multigenerational Homes - Pool House Design & Construction - Barn Design & Construction - Tiny House Construction - Construction Drawings - Custom Home ### Areas Served - Virginia Beach - Arlington - Richmond - Lynchburg - Charlottesville - Lake Monticello - Hollymead - Earlysville - Ivy - Wintergreen - Keswick - North Garden - Free Union - Palmyra - Nelson County - Northern Virginia - Virginia ### Typical Job Cost $500,000 - 1 million Our typical project is in the 500,000 - 1,000,000. We have also done multi-million dollar custom homes. ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Hays + Ewing Design Studio | | Address | 609 East Market St., Suite 203, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, United States | | Phone | (434) 979-3222 | | Website | http://www.hays-ewing.com | | License Number | 010221 | | Followers on Houzz | 228 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — www.facebook.com/HaysEwingDesignStudio - X (Twitter) — https://twitter.com/Ewing\_Allison - LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/hays-ewing-design-studio - Blog — https://www.instagram.com/heds\_architects/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Hays + Ewing Design Studio](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/hays-ewing-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~377857768) - **Website:** http://www.hays-ewing.com - **Phone:** (434) 979-3222 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Many AIA awards, Custom Home of the Year (Custom Home Magazine), among others - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2015–2016), for Design, Service. **Affiliations** - [AIA Virginia](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/aia-virginia-pfvwus-pf~1956081853) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 18 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 5.0 - Communication: 5.0 - Value: 5.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Lindsey Tessada, Jan. 2021** > Our experience with Hays Ewing Design was excellent. We gave Chris the style we wanted, how many and what types of rooms and he took it from there. Our approach was very hands off. We've never designed or built a house before, so we let Chris make most of the plans. He would always come to us with options and we'd pick from there. We could have made every single decision along the way if that was our jam, but for us, it was better to give him a direction and then pick from the narrowed down choices he brought to us. I remember during the design phase being so impressed that he was able to take just our spoken ideas (I didn't even have too many pictures to show him, just ideas) and create a house that was exactly what we were hoping to achieve. The few times I would actually have a specific idea, I would ask his opinion and he'd always tell me the truth, even if it wasn't something I wanted to hear. And he was always right. Once the house was built, I could then see how some of my ideas wouldn't have fit the look and style we wanted. > > We love our home.It's so beautiful and thoughtfully made. I still can't believe I get to live in this gorgeous place. **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > The Tessadas were exceptional clients. They were thoughtful and articulate in their initial goals and were terrific collaborators. I felt like we always had an open fruitful dialog while discussing ideas for their house. It's very exciting for me to see how they inhabit the house year round as their house is just down the street from ours. **★★★★★ — Theta Homes, June 2020** > Theta Homes is a certified EarthCraft builder and were very fortunate to be selected to build a house designed by Chris Hays of Hays+Ewing Design Studio. The house was 2,760 sf, beautifully designed, and located in Powhatan, VA. > > Chris provided comprehensive Specifications that made our job easier. When we needed clarifications and more details, Chris was always available to provide them quickly. The best part was that we would have discussions about how to achieve his design goals using a slightly different approach due to site conditions or for any other reason. He was always willing to listen and discuss and it felt like it was truly a team effort. > > I am in touch with the owners from time to time and they always mention how much they enjoy their home. This is certainly a testimony to the great design. I do hope I will get another opportunity to work on a house designed by Hays+Ewing Design Studio. > > I would highly recommend Hays+Ewing Design Studio to anyone looking for a great design firm. **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > We had a long search to find a builder who was as committed to high quality, client-focused, green building as the clients and we were. When we met Soumitra Banerjee of Theta Homes, we knew we found the right builder. With his architectural background, he immediately understood our goals and embraced them. He was committed from the start to work to build the best project possible. We were very lucky to have Soumitra from start to finish. Thanks Soumitra for all your hard work and perserverance. **★★★★★ — Emma and Andrew, April 2020** > We needed an ADA accessible house, and Hays + Ewing worked with us to design something that meets our personalities and our desire to have a home where we could age in place. We love the house both inside and out, where it fits perfectly into our rural lot. Chris was infinitely patient with us through all of our needs and challenges, and really went above and beyond! **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > Emma and Andrew were clear from the start that they wanted a modern, green, ADA house that was beautiful and took advantage of the surrounding woods and created great outdoor spaces. Presented with a variety of obstacles along the way, they dealt with each with grace and determination. It was an honor and privilege to work with them to create a house that hopefully will make them very happy for many years. **★★★★★ — Michael Curry, April 2020** > I am a structural engineer with 35 years’ experience working with hundreds of clients on the west and east coast. I have been incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Allison Ewing and Chris Hays on a variety of fabulous projects for the past ten-plus years. Their projects are always interesting, beautiful, energy efficient, and carefully crafted. While many architects may apply a particular design aesthetic on project after project, Chris and Allison’s commitment to their clients’ vision and sensitivity to the specifics of a building site, result in buildings that are unique and, frankly, spectacular. Without hesitation, I highly recommend Hays+Ewing Design Studio. **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > Michael has been our go-to structural engineer for most of our projects because he understands our design goals and works closely with us to create a wonderful marriage of architecture and structure. We are extremely fortunate to have him engaged in our projects. **★★★★★ — Capler Homes, Inc., Nov. 2019** > "My firm Capler Homes has been working with Allison for the past 18 months on an extremely unique and challenging build. The experience has been transformative. Her vision for our project challenged the concept of what can be a home. This unique build required her skill to put together a team of engineers, designers, and other architects to deliver the most comprehensive set of construction drawings we've ever had to build from. This has allowed us to push at the boundaries of conceptual to buildable. The result has been an incredibly well designed home that maintains her core principles of green building and energy efficiency through her thorough research of cutting edge products and building practices, without compromising an incredible design. In our highly competitive high end market she has created a buzz within the building community and raised the bar for excellence. “ > > Ben Butler > President Capler Homes > President Nelson County Home Builders Association **★★★★★ — ginger\_too, Aug. 2016** > In the 90's, we acquired a rectangular hilly three acre wooded lot in Stony Point, Charlottesville, VA with the intention of retiring there. Chris Hays was the best fit for our aspirations for designing a stylish functional “green” low maintenance home (no lawn, no lawnmower), beautifully integrated into the landscape. Upstairs, the inside spaces feel bigger than they are due to both a clever use of inverted roof trusses that make the opposing walls higher than the middle of the living-dining- kitchen area. A wrap around shaded deck visually extends the floor area. Downstairs, dark wood lines running through the concrete floor tie slate and the outside concrete together for creating a large open space. Chris and Allison guided us on the choices of tiles, fixtures and floor treatments (we stained the oak floor upstairs black, which complimented the dark granite kitchen counter, and added a sense of grounding). > > It's a joy to be at home. With windows on all sides and overhead, seasonal changes become our wallpaper. The morning and evening light through the trees casts an ever-shifting shadow play on the walls. The movement of water reflects into the house from the long pool in the afternoons, and sometimes in the moonlight. When it snows – our view of the outside world is breathtaking. **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > It is so gratifying to have happy clients and to know we, together, have built a green home that is suits your needs and that you love and enjoy. Thanks Ginger! **★★★★★ — gstaengl, Nov. 2015** > Chris and Allison are fantastic architects who design beautiful buildings. I would love to live in a Hays + Ewing house. **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > The energy efficiency of our projects owes much to your involvement. It's always a good collaboration. **★★★★★ — JAMES M SYKES CONSTRUCTION CO, July 2015** > Hays+Ewing Design Studio is an Architectural Design firm which I have been working with on a substantial residential project. I am a General Contractor and Hays + Ewing was hired by the owner. > Hays + Ewing's design is exceptional as are the drawings, specifications and construction documents. They are among the best I have worked with in my thirty six years as a general contractor. Allison Ewing has been very competent and hard working with regard to contract negotiations, value engineering,clarifications of design , and construction administration. > I have enjoyed working with Hays+Ewing and would recommend them for any project where excellence in design and follow through are required. > Jim Sykes > J.M.Sykes, Inc. > Virginia Beach Va. **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > It is very gratifying to hear such nice comments! It is a pleasure to work with your team- the quality of craftsmanship is superb, the attention to detail, thoroughness in reviewing the information and fidelity to drawings...I can't say enough about how pleased I am with the progress of the house currently under construction. Of course, having already worked together on another house, I knew I could expect the highest quality from your team. Shout out to you, Dan Neveu, Joel Box and Kathy Bristow for such good work! Image attached from today's site visit.... **★★★★★ — willard\_pate, July 2015** > Chris Hays designed my home in the mountains of North Carolina. I engaged his services because I knew that he would be creative as well as mindful of environmental issues. Working with him lived up to my expectations. I suggested a couple of features that I would like and then left Chris to do the design work; what he came up with was excellent. Then throughout the building process his supervision of the builder and attention to detail were important to the final outcome. **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > It has been a great pleasure working with you on your house. We shared many goals and design ideas through the design process. The LEED Certification of this house is a testament to your commitment to sustainable design. **★★★★★ — Business\_Name\_Placeholder, July 2015** > As a builder I have worked together with Chris Hays and clients on the construction of 3 new houses over the past 5 years. > > Chris listens carefully to his clients’ ideas and visions for their house and then creates unique designs to fulfill their desires. As concepts are worked through he addresses all questions and concerns that arise in a pleasant, non stressful manner. Chris is very aware of budget issues, and works hard at value engineering with clients and builder to meet his clients’ budget. Teamwork between his clients , the builder and himself is fostered with good communiation. Therefore very few problems arise. > > Chris is very knowledgeable about and dedicated to green design and I feel fortunate to have worked with him. I'm proud to say that a house we built in 2010, designed by Chris, was awarded Top Ten Earthcraft House for energy efficiency in the state of Virginia. > I highly recommend Hays+Ewing Design Studio! > > Peter Johnson > Peter Johnson Builders LLC > peterjohnsonbuilders.com **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > As with the other houses we have worked on together, it has been very gratifying to work with a builder that takes such care with all aspects of the project, and pride in the craftsmanship inside and out. Thank you for the thoughtful review. **★★★★★ — sdexter29, July 2015** > This summer marks the 8th anniversary of moving into my house designed by Allison Ewing of Hays + Ewing Design Studio, so I have a lot of experience behind saying that the house has served me well! The buildable space in the lot was entirely in a 100-year flood plain, but Allison's creative response sited the house perfectly on the lot and employed an innovative, elevated design. She carefully planned around six 80-foot plus trees to the east and put the first floor up one level; trusses allowed for a totally open first floor and with perfectly placed windows the result is a feeling of being in a tree house. I love it love it love it every single day. Also, the green design means it's super well insulated and also employs passive solar design. It is inexpensive to heat and cool, but what I really enjoy every day is how comfortable the home is, there are no hot nor cold zones. I love to entertain family and friends and overall the house let's me bring people in to my life and have the great space in which I can enjoy them. I'm so very happy with this thoughtfully designed home! **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > Thank you for the nice review! It is especially gratifying to hear that our goals -- to create an energy efficient home that is full of daylight and connects to the landscape (a treehouse!) -- has so fully translated into your daily living. **★★★★★ — websterfinch, March 2015** > My husband and I worked with Allison Ewing to create our home in Arlington, Virginia. We wanted a modern, elegant, and simple home with lots of natural light and great functional design built using interesting, non-standard, green building materials and concepts. Working with Allison was an exciting process: we had a big wish list, a strict budget, and a desire to create a non-traditional, flexible space that complimented the way we live. What we got was more than we ever imagined; the space is truly beautiful. Our main living area sits on the top floor with south-facing views and provides us with great natural light and treetop canopy views. The play of light and shadows throughout the day is peaceful; we are closer to nature. James and I honestly feel that the home has improved our quality of life and look forward to experiencing the seasons change. > > If you care about the environment and have an appreciation for great design and architecture, work with Hays + Ewing Design Studio. You won’t be disappointed! **Comment from Hays + Ewing Design Studio:** > Thank you for the nice review! It has been a really fun collaboration and we look forward to the project taking shape once construction begins. ## Selected projects - [Contemporary Virginia Beach Home \| Lantern on Linkhorn Bay](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-virginia-beach-home-lantern-on-linkhorn-bay-pj-vj~2065216) - Location: Virginia Beach, VA - Photos: 47 - Description: HEDS architecture firm designed this house in Virginia Beach, Virginia – the second project for a couple with a national furniture business. A linear fountain strikes a line along the entry path, disappears below the house then reappears beyond as a pool. The fountain and pool provide a striking foreground view to the shoreline while a series of floating roofs engage with the horizon: the house speaks to the site, is in dialogue with the site, calls forth the view. The 16′ tall great room with f… - [Night Song Bridge House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/night-song-bridge-house-pj-vj~7328949) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 35 - [Hillside House on Chesapeake](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hillside-house-on-chesapeake-pj-vj~6917587) - Location: Charlottesville, VA - Photos: 18 - Description: A contemporary house in Charlottesville, Virginia presents a sculptural front composition. A garage is masked behind automated sliding louvered barn doors. The front entrance features a trapezoidal window that follows the line of the stair. The exterior finishes include corrugated metal siding combined with a warm natural-stained wood siding. The interior open plan features a balcony overlook from the upper level of a striking open-riser stair. - [Solar Faber \| Mill Pond Modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/solar-faber-mill-pond-modern-pj-vj~1927992) - Location: Faber, VA - Photos: 21 - Description: The design of this house was driven by the ethics of our client: to create a green solar home on a property where she could pursue sustainable farming practices. With solar panels in mind, the roof was designed for southern exposure and the incline to optimize the maximum potential for energy production. The solar panels produce 100% of the home’s energy needs. Beyond the functional requirements, the roof form took on a dominant role in the building concept: it folds up, around and down to shelt… - [Arlington Solar](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/arlington-solar-pj-vj~5949742) - Location: Arlington, VA - Photos: 7 - [Modern Dog Trot House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-dog-trot-house-pj-vj~441922) - Location: Charlottesville, VA - Photos: 14 - Description: Set in a forest in Stony Point, north of Richmond Road, the house is a modern interpretation of a "dogtrot". The client wished to have a house with which to revel in the woods around them and enjoy the seasonal variations of the Virginia climate. The house is designed to wed their daily routines to their surroundings with a seamless flow between the indoors and outdoors. The dogtrot acts as the space between the two. - [Contemporary Stony Point House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-stony-point-house-pj-vj~442779) - Location: Charlottesville, Virginia, VA - Photos: 17 - Description: This 3,000 SF house in Virginia steps down the steep slope in a series of terraces and decks culminating in a pool. An inverted truss roof provides shading while evoking the wooded tree canopy that characterizes the site. Passive solar design, SIPS wall panels, solar panels and an array of other sustainable green strategies contribute to the low environmental impact of the design. - [Modern Solar Rivers Edge Community](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-solar-rivers-edge-community-pj-vj~929319) - Location: Charlottesville, VA - Photos: 9 - Description: The house is the first of ten homes (two designed for Habitat for Humanity), planned for a new sustainable community near downtown Charlottesville, Virginia. HEDS formed the Rivanna Collaborative with three other colleagues to plan and develop a community that embodies green design and planning principles. RiversEdge House was designed as a spec project and received an Award of Excellence from the Virginia Society of the AIA. One of the judges commended the project for it's "boots on the ground"… - [Contemporary Woolen Mills House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-woolen-mills-house-pj-vj~443198) - Location: Charlottesville, VA - Photos: 23 - Description: Designed around two Japanese concepts, ma, or spatial interval between two objects, and hashi, referring to bridge, this house is split in two parts with a bridge spanning over the entry court. The bridge is a place of transition and connectivity, both joining and separating the public and private spaces within the house while expanding the boundaries of the interior to the outdoors and framing a view of the Charlottesville, Virginia landscape. Environmental strategies of this 3,500 SF house, in… [See all 9 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/hays-ewing-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~377857768) ## Ideabooks - [Kooistra](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/179687964/list/kooistra) — 4 ideas - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/154962608/list/wish-list) — 2 ideas - [Cork flooring](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/154978669/list/cork-flooring) — 2 ideas - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/154962607/list/wish-list) — 1 idea - [sofa \| bed \| murphy](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/102903842/list/sofa-bed-murphy) — 1 idea [See all 5 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/aewing59) ## Community Q&A **Q: what is the finish on the concrete ?** *(in Photo Questions)* Finish? A: Hi - It's a polished finish with sealer. **Q: what material was used for soffit?** *(in Photo Questions)* Soffit details A: If you are referring to the ceiling - painted drywall. Exterior is fibercement board @ underside of roof. **Q: bathroom mirror** *(in Photo Questions)* Hello. Where did you buy or source this bathroom mirror from please? A: Those are made by Roburn. **Q: What lights were used near the mirror? Brand?** *(in Photo Questions)* Are they LED? A: Yes, LED - Edge Audry Vanity light. **Q: Love your outdoor decor! Where are the chaises from? Thanks!** *(in Photo Questions)* Outdoor chaise A: Hi - The client had them made by her own fabricators. She is in the furniture business. **Q: shower and bath floor** *(in Photo Questions)* What was used on the shower and bath floor? A: Teak was used. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-23.*