homes designed wholly for you
Wholeness Dwellings
The term wholeness dwelling – incorporating key features of both wellness-centered design and sustainability – focuses on achieving personal and environmental wholeness.
Founded upon the work of pioneers in the fields of behavioral sciences, phenomenology, and architecture, I created the term to denote a holistic framework for shaping experiences of profound connection, caring, and belonging -- enabling people to feel truly at home.
For a taste of Wholeness Dwelling...
“Every time I enter my new home, I first breathe a sigh of relief – I’m Home! – and then happily go from room to room taking in all of the beauty. I do this every time…over a year after my home was completed.”
— Anne D.
PORTFOLIO
Let's take a walk together
enjoying everyday activities
Arriving
Approaching, we have a sense of anticipation – perhaps catching a glimpse of a lake that our home faces – reminding us of tranquility...
Or, perhaps, as our approach is slowed by a curving path or steppingstones...
Settling In
Like coming upon an open meadow in a forest, the heart of our home offers us the sense of a clearing –a space to receive and welcome our being.
Whatever names we give to the places that welcome us to settle – great room, living room, family room or porch – we find space to attend to ourselves...
Connecting
Stairs and passageways can contribute grace and a natural flow to our daily movements.
They can provide a breath of air – a sense of light and openness – offering us views of interest and time to reflect...
Eating
Our kitchens often serve as the hub of homes – a desired place to be – alone or with others, for cooking or simply enjoying a drink or snack.
Cabinets designed for intuitive use, generous work surfaces, well-arranged appliances, and abundant lighting allow activities to be performed with a sense of grace...
Bathing
A bath should be a celebration of water, light, and nature...
Windows may be used to showcase views of nearby vegetation and, when opened, allow us to feel summer breezes, smell the ocean, or hear bird calls as we shower or soak in a tub...
Dreaming
Whether an adult homeowner or a child, we all hold our own bedroom as our most intimate sanctuary – our place to rejuvenate and find deep pleasure.
In these spaces, more than anywhere else, we strive to fine-tune the light, sound, air quality, temperature, and humidity to best suit our own personal pleasures.
Prospect House
Nestled in a seaside neighborhood at the southernmost tip of New Jersey, the Prospect House is designed to sleep eight as a vacation home, and ultimately become the owner’s permanent residence upon retirement.
The house, which is designed to LEED Silver standards, also received Energy Star certification. Sustainable site features include a vegetative roof, rainwater harvesting for a habitat garden drip irrigation system, permeable “stepping stone” driveway, and the retention of mature existing trees.
“I’m committed to making your dreams become real.”
– Ed Barnhart, principal, AxD
Hi, I'm Ed Barnhart
It was my own quest for wholeness that led me to form AxD in 2005, leaving behind 20 years of practice at prestigious design firms. During those formative years, working on projects from England to Japan, I learned the importance of attending to the details, communicating effectively, and being fully invested and passionate in whatever I do.