Get to Know Rachel Burton
“So much in architecture depends on the right fit. The way the design fits the landscape. The way the building fits the use. And the way a room fits the people who live in it. Getting the right fit takes a rare combination of consultation and vision. For me, each home is a beautiful gem. Each needs the perfect setting and fit, both for the owners and for the landscape on which the home sits.”
Rachel
Rachel Burton, AIA, ArCH, OAA, LEED AP
Rachel named her practice Swallowtail Architecture after the classic swallowtail joint, a precise and beautiful coming together of two pieces of wood, another kind of perfect fit. She has more than 30 years of experience on an array of projects. Rachel specializes in residential architecture on Sullivan’s Island, Kiawah Island, Summerville and in the Lowcountry around Charleston, South Carolina.
Rachel is drawn to waterways and appreciates the way they reflect the color and nuance, the sunrise and sunset each day and the change of colors with the seasons. She is known for causing the apparently impossible coastal zoning requirements to seemingly melt away as she makes the very most of each project’s potential. Having spent her earlier years in Africa, Jamaica, England and Canada, Rachel delights to call South Carolina home. She sits on the executive board for Dorchester Habitat for Humanity, the Board of Architectural Review for the Town of Summerville and is an active member of Rotary. In her free time, she can be found exploring yet more waterways, through Scandinavian mystery novels and going, with her husband, on two-week wilderness trips… by canoe.
We are passionate about helping people design custom living spaces that let them enjoy the beauty of our local landscape. Whether you wish to build your dream home on a LowCountry marsh, renovate your current residence in Summerville, or modify a historic residence in Charleston, we can help. View our portfolio of custom homes, additions, and renovations. If you are ready to discuss your projects, please contact us.
From Rachel’s Desk
Latest post from Architect Rachel Burton with her insights about designing and building luxury homes in the Lowcountry region surrounding Charleston and on the Barrier Islands of South Carolina.
Best Architecture Single Residence South Carolina, USA
International Property Awards has selected the Gallery House on Sullivan's Island as the winner of the prestigious Americas Property Award. Home Designs that are selected to receive this award celebrate the highest levels of achievement [...]
What to Consider Before A Hurricane
After returning to the office (post Hurricane Florence), we had wanted to share some of our experience about what to consider when returning home after a hurricane. We knew first hand all the practical to [...]
What to Consider After A Hurricane
The Swallowtail Team and the Greater Charleston area were so fortunate that neither felt the brunt of Hurricane Florence that brought massive amounts of water and some high winds to North Carolina and significant flooding [...]
Swallowtail Named Best Architectural Firm in Charleston
Swallowtail Architecture beat out the competition and was voted best architectural firm in Charleston by the readers of The Post and Courier. The Charleston Choice Awards are voted on annually by The Post and Courier [...]
‘Architects’ Gallery’ Features Swallowtail Project
Swallowtail Architecture has been featured in the 2018 Architects' Gallery of Custom Homes as published by Charleston Home + Design Magazine. The magazine's annual feature showcases the design work of top Charleston Architects. "Architect-designed homes [...]
Beresford Hall Project Featured in ‘Charleston Living’ Magazine
Charleston Living Magazine features a recently completed home on Daniel Island designed by our firm, Swallowtail Architecture. The home in Beresford Hall is really a labor of love, two decades in the making with an [...]
What It Is All About…
This video, originally shot in 2012 when Rachel Burton first opened Swallowtail Architecture, still captures the Swallowtail essentials and what drives our work everyday. Our mission is to create dream homes for people who want to live in the beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry.
Learn More About Swallowtail Architecture
Looking for an Architect in Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, and in the Lowcountry area around Charleston, South Carolina? Swallowtail provides residential design services including custom, new homes, historic restorations, whole house renovations, additions, as well as commercial design services for coastal, lowcountry, island, traditional, and modern-beach homes, as well as commercial properties in the Charleston area.
- View Our Portfolio.
- Learn more about Our Services.
- Learn more about Our Design Process.
- Contact Us Today to Discuss Your Project.