Title: A Conversation with Victoria Neale

In this Video: Victoria Neale shares some thoughts about her involvement with the CharityWorks GreenHouse Project.

The CharityWorks GreenHouse Project will be a Designers' Show House Benefitting The Friendship Charter School, Washington, D.C. and the Mclean Project for the Arts scheduled to open the Fall of 2009

The show house will feature the ultimate in haute green design and offer a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the new ethic of responsible luxury.

Project developers WEST*GROUP and GreenSpur, Inc. have assembled the best and brightest in green design and construction to create a house that represents a new approach to sustainability whereby more efficient building design, innovative technology and a smart location can be combined to reduce carbon emissions, the leading source of greenhouse gases.

Under the guidance of world-renowned designer, Barry Dixon, and Design Committee Vice Chair Victoria Neale, up to 18 premier designers will transform the house into a refuge and support system for a 21st century lifestyle focused on community connectivity, health, and greater respect for our planet.

The House also Features:

The use of a structurally Integrated Panel System (SIPS) that typically doubles the R-factor required by local building codes

Heating and cooling using a geothermal system

On-site electricity generation through photovoltaic panels and wind turbines

Rain water capture and grey water recycling systems

Sustainable landscaping and saltwater pool

Upon completion, the house is projected to use 70-80% less energy per square foot than a comparable new home, and its location will reduce even further the total carbon footprint of the family living there.

The CharityWorks GreenHouse will provide a platform for an interactive aesthetic and educational experience. Our goal is for each visitor to come away with a new appreciation of haute green interior design and the inspiration to incorporate into their own home.

Victoria Neale has been featured by Southern Accents magazine in their annual feature “4 Under 40”. She has also been selected as one of the top 125 designers in the US by House Beautiful Magazine. her work has been featured in magazines and books, including Southern Accents, House Beautiful, Home & Design Magazine, and Spectacular Homes of Greater Washington, DC.br>
Based in Washington, DC and focusing on residential design, Ms. Neale has clients in DC, the Maryland and Virginia suburbs, and projects in Florida, Boston, and elsewhere. “My clients laugh when I say this, but one of my strongest beliefs is the house will tell you what it wants. Paying attention to the architecture and listening to the clients guides the design – from furniture layout to style to color.”

Focusing on the house and clients means that each project is unique. Always present, though, are confident use of color, a mix of expected and unexpected elements, and attention to detail.