PROJECT  Bullis Park Residence

ARCHITECT  Carib Daniel Martin A+D

LOCATION  Silver Spring, Maryland, US​

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  5/1/2024

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Carib Daniel Martin, AIA, M. Gabriela Leniz, Sue Bryan, Nick Wilson, Lisa Quandt, JC Comeau
OWNER/CLIENT  Marc + Brandy Blair
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Classic Homes of Maryland / Howard Saslow + Tim Moser
PHOTOGRAPHER  Anice Hoachlander
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
CIVIL ENGINEER Potomac Valley Surveys / Dave Mowatt + Christie Maisel
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER  Structural Engineering Unlimited / Juan Utrera
MECHANICAL ENGINEER 
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER 
CONSULTANT 
CONSULTANT  
CONSULTANT  
CONSULTANT  
CONSULTANT  
CONSULTANT  
CONSULTANT  
CONSULTANT  
CONSULTANT  
CONSULTANT  

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  
Located on a narrow lot within walking distance of downtown Silver Spring, the Bullis Park Residence was designed to provide a calm, modern home for a young family while carefully responding to its context within the neighborhood.

The site, an established residential neighborhood of modest pre-war homes, was selected not for its walkable proximity to the Metro and general civic life. From the beginning, the goal was to create a house that felt modern but remained in dialogue with its surroundings. The design takes cues from the rhythm, proportions, and material palette of the neighborhood, reinterpreting familiar elements in a cleaner, more refined language. Traditional materials such as lap siding, board-and-batten, stucco, and stone are combined with warm wood accents and composed in a way that reflects the home’s modern design ethos. The massing is calibrated to the scale of adjacent homes, while the front porch - a common feature on the street - establishes a strong connection between the private interior and the shared life of the neighborhood.

Inside, the plan is organized around openness, daylight, and flexibility. The first floor features a connected living, dining, and kitchen space anchored by an open-riser stair and framed by large windows that maintain connection to the outdoors. The second floor includes four bedrooms and support spaces organized under vaulted ceilings and banded windows, which add volume and light within the home’s compact footprint. A long view from the primary suite opens out to the rear yard, where a regulation basketball court defines the outdoor space, an essential program element for the family.

Environmental performance was integrated throughout the design. A roof rainwater catchment system manages runoff and is paired with a layered planting strategy that retains and filters surface water. High-efficiency mechanical systems, LED lighting, low-VOC finishes, and passive solar strategies - including overhangs and carefully-placed glazing - enhance both comfort and sustainability. Together, these systems reduce the home’s environmental footprint and improve long-term resiliency.

The Bullis Park Residence offers a thoughtful response to the challenges and opportunities of infill residential design. It honors the character of its neighborhood without mimicking it, creates generous interior spaces within a limited envelope, and integrates sustainable systems without compromise. In doing so, it provides a model for how modern design can reinforce community, respond to context, and improve the lived experience of both its occupants and its surroundings.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

This residential project in Silver Spring, Maryland draws formal inspiration from its context, demonstrating a thoughtful reading of scale and typology in the development of a new housing proposal. Elements such as board and batten siding, porch, yard, and landscaping are choreographed to offer a fresh interpretation of familiar domestic features. The integration of resilient landscaping and energy-efficient strategies further contributes to reducing the home's environmental footprint.

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. Bullis Park Residence - Front Porch - © Anice Hoachlander
2. Bullis Park Residence - Rear Facade - © Anice Hoachlander
3. Bullis Park Residence - Entry Stair - © Anice Hoachlander
4. Bullis Park Residence - Neighborhood Streetscape - © Anice Hoachlander
5. Bullis Park Residence - Front Facade - © Anice Hoachlander
6. Bullis Park Residence - Kitchen - © Anice Hoachlander
7. Bullis Park Residence - Living Room - © Anice Hoachlander
8. Bullis Park Residence - Primary Bedroom - © Anice Hoachlander