David grew up literally on the bank of the river, under the bluffs of Natchez, Mississippi. There he developed a lifelong interest in houses and photography and a lifelong respect for water moccasins and fast currents.
After college he returned to Mississippi to spend a year making a photo documentary of its places and people, and what he saw as a vanishing rural way of life. That led to an interest in vernacular architecture and preservation, and three years of architecture school.
Returning to Mississippi after an internship in large firms, he set up practice in Natchez in 1980. He focused primarily on preservation work while taking on all the projects that come with a small-town practice.
1n 1990, as his firm gained credibility and larger projects, he uprooted his wife and young children and moved to Alexandria to begin again. While the decision was complicated, a large part of it had to do with a desire to be in a large metropolitan area where he might specialize in what he had always wanted to do – houses.
In 2000, after building a small residential practice in the DC metro area, he began a long transition toward doing more sustainable buildings, a learning process that continues to this day as his firm explores the frontiers of high-performance buildings.
In January of this year, David partnered with Matt Fine, AIA, who had been doing similar Passive House work in the multi-family affordable housing world, and they created Peabody|Fine Architects. The firm’s goal is to create a collaborative environment for designers united by their focus on zero energy construction.
Where did you go to college? Yale
What does it take to be an architect? Tenacity.
Was there an architect that particularly inspired you? Wright
What are you currently reading? The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson and The Hours by Michael Cunningham.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had? The first time I had roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.
Why do you volunteer with AIA? To share.