The name "Edham" comes from the Anglo-Saxon words eád-hám, to mean “Fortunate Home.” *
eád
(adj.) Rich, wealthy, blessed, happy.
(n.) A possession, riches, prosperity, happiness, bliss.
* Bosworth, Joseph. “eád.” In An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online, edited by Thomas Northcote Toller, Christ Sean, and Ondřej Tichy. Prague: Faculty of Arts, Charles University, 2014.
hám
(n.) A piece of enclosed land.
Edham Architecture is a newly established residential architecture firm. We bring a wealth of experience and a depth of expertise developed over years of work, and are excited to bring our services to our community.
We listen closely to our clients, and work with them and their team to understand their needs and desires before our pencils touch paper, in order to arrive, together, at the completed house they desire.
We are dedicated Classicists, with a devotion to learning and growing our understanding of architecture and its relationship to culture, environment, and technology.
Our work is rooted in the study of architectural traditions, both locally and globally. We believe these traditions reflect the depth of wisdom, culture, and humanity that shapes our lives today.
As architects, the lessons we take from those traditions are applied to modern technologies and philosophies, and allow us to create architecture that reflects our clients’ needs and aspirations in the context in which the buildings rest.
About the Office
Collaboration & Leadership
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The best homes are the result of a thoughtful, well-coordinated team. Clients, builders, engineers, landscape architects, interior designers, and craftspeople each bring important expertise to the process. We value that input, while also recognizing the architect’s role in giving the project clear direction. Through careful listening, steady coordination, and sound judgment, we help bring the team together around a coherent architectural vision, so that decisions are made carefully and the finished home reflects both the client’s life and the skill of everyone involved.
Construction Documents
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A successful home design and construction depends on drawings that are clear, coordinated, and carefully prepared. Construction documents are the bridge between the design idea and the finished house, and they must be readily understood by the people building from them. We prepare our drawings and specifications with care, organizing information logically and reviewing the work methodically so the design can move into construction with clarity and confidence.
Classical Architecture
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We believe the classical tradition remains vital because it speaks to enduring human needs for beauty, order, and permanence. Through careful attention to context, proportion, and material, we create homes that feel naturally connected to their landscape, their inhabitants, and the architectural lineage from which they emerge.
Classical architecture is not simply a matter of columns, moldings, or historic detail. It is a way of understanding proportion, precedent, craft, material, and place. By studying the traditions and building techniques that shaped historic houses, we gain insight into how modern materials and methods can be used with greater depth and integrity. This allows us to design new homes that feel authentic, enduring, and natural to their surroundings, while supporting the way families live today.
Our work is built on a foundation of three core values, which we bring to all our work, and guides us to the best results.
Our Values
The Team
Richard Nichols
Principal & Founder
Richard Nichols, AIA, NCARB, is a fully licensed residential architect with more than a decade of experience delivering high-end projects across the Northeast. His work includes new estate residences, historic renovations, and award-winning commissions recognized with the Stanford White Award, Palladio Award, and AIA Connecticut awards.
Prior to founding his own practice, Richard served as Project Architect at firms known for excellence in traditional design, managing complex, multimillion-dollar projects from concept through construction, including
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VanderHorn Architects
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John B. Murray Architect
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David Scott Parker Architects
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Hamady Architects
He is a well-regarded expert in both traditional and contemporary architecture, with a focus on proportion, craft, and livability. Richard applies the same rigor to every commission, regardless of scale.
