Blithewold Pavilion
Originally a summer estate, the 33-acre Blithewold property features a 45-room historic mansion that is surrounded by a series of gardens and an arboretum. Special events, including weddings, are held under a tent in the exquisite North Garden adjacent to the Mansion. DBVW Architects was asked to design a small building next to the tent to provide a nuptial suite as well as restrooms and storage space for special events. In response to the garden setting, the new building design features two small “pavilions” that are nestled into the landscape and are connected by a green-roofed storage area. The design of the new building has historical references and is carefully detailed to be respectful of its setting.
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Martha is a nationally-recognized expert in the field of historic preservation. She has directed multiple phases of important preservation projects at some of the region’s most treasured landmark buildings. As an advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Martha served on a national Sustainability Task Force focused on strengthening the important relationship between sustainability and historic preservation. Martha serves on the boards of GrowSmart RI and the Historic Preservation Education Foundation. She is a Governor-appointed member of the Capital Center Commission, a member of the RIHPHC review board, and a past-President of AIA/Rhode Island. When Martha is not climbing up steeples or through abandoned buildings, she can be found playing tennis or kayaking on the Narragansett Bay.