PROJECT Corner Courtyard Residence

ARCHITECT Wiedemann Architects, LLC

LOCATION  Bethesda, MD, Maryland US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  4/30/2019

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Greg Wiedemann, Principal; Lindsay Field, Project Architect
OWNER/CLIENT
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Robert & Michael McNamara, McNamra Brothers General Contractors, Inc.
PHOTOGRAPHER  Anice Hoachlander/Hoachlander Davis Photography

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Lila Fendrick, RLA, ASLA, GRP and Doug Stookey/Lila Fendrick Landscape Architecture and Garden Design
CIVIL ENGINEER Erik Tidd, P.E./CAS Engineering
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Wayne Bryan, PD & Gonzalo Koosau, PE, LEED AP/Ehlert Bryan Consulting Structural Engineers
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
CONSULTANT Paul Chung, PE/Geotech Engineers, Inc. 11890-U Old Baltimore Pike, Beltsville, MD 20705
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  

This project is a new home in a suburban neighborhood outside Washington DC for two “empty nesters” who desired a modern home that would accommodate their lifestyle today, and allow them to age in place. The design provides a typology for a small home with flexibility to adjust to changing needs of an older population and serves as an example of achieving privacy on an exposed suburban corner lot.

The corner lot presented challenges to create both interior and exterior privacy. The original house was set back with virtually no private outdoor space.

Program: The clients requested first floor living, with a ground floor master suite and all the requisite spaces easily accessible. In addition, the program included two guest rooms, to accommodate visits of their adult children, and independent access to space for the client’s current consulting business and future live-in accommodation for a caregiver.

Solution: The site strategy was to move the residence toward the southeast corner, with the main mass on the north side to provide privacy from the adjacent neighbor, the first floor master suite facing and second floor terrace overlooking a courtyard at the southwest. To accommodate live/work, the design provides a private entry to a lower level office with a sunken garden.

The design employs energy saving strategies and an economy of means to achieve resilient response to the arc of changing needs with age and allows the client to remain in their home. This home, more modest in scale, serves as a stark contrast to the oversized speculative houses in the neighborhood. The compact plan allows for one floor living as the client ages, with accessibility to a private outdoor courtyard, screened from view. The lower level serves the client’s lifestyle today, but also accommodates future use should live-in caregiver be required.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project/Jury PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)

1. Southwest View at Dusk, @Anice Hoachlander
2. Patio at Dusk, @Anice Hoachlander
3. Living/Dining Opens to Private Courtyard, @Anice Hoachlander

4. East Elevation at Dusk, @Anice Hoachlander
5. Accessible Master Bath, @Anice Hoachlander
6. Lower Level Office, @Anice Hoachlander
7. Interior Stairs, @Anice Hoachlander
8. View from Southwest, @Anice Hoachlander