PROJECT  Edgemoor House II

LOCATION  Bethesda, Maryland, US​

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  6/30/2025

Firm(s): Anne Decker Architects 

Design Team Members: Anne Decker, AIA | Dagmar Fisher

Client: 
Contractor/Construction Manager: Potomac Valley Builders

Landscape Architect: Oehme, van Sweden

Structural Engineer: Linton Engineering

Civil Engineer: CAS Engineering

Mechanical Engineer: 

Electrical Engineer: 

Photographer(s): Jennifer Hughes, Photography LLC
Additional project support: Kitchen Interior Design: Snaidero
Audio/Visual Consultant: A.B.E. Networks
Lighting Consultant: David K. Tozer Lighting Design
Structural Engineer: Cobb Architectural Engineers LLC

PROJECT SUMMARY

Sitting on an unusual pie-shaped lot surrounded by eight neighboring homes, Edgemoor House II is a private garden sanctuary shaped for retreat from the city, connection to nature, and everyday living. Sensitivity to scale and placement on the site allows tranquil vignettes framed by the natural landscape, acknowledging the surrounding community, while supporting the home’s quiet role as a good neighbor.

The design of this house plays with a dynamic juxtaposition of opposites: heavy and light, shiny and dull, solid and void. A weightless glass corner counters the weight of the building’s grounded stone structure. Window and door openings kiss the edges, blurring inside and out. The rhythm of windows along the circulation spine echoes the fluttering leaves in the clerestory, while frenetic wood patterns add energy, celebrating the textural beauty of the natural environment. The front facade acts as a protective shield, with a portal-like entrance leading through a glass door and an elongated pool, drawing the eye towards a serene backyard.

High-performance systems of geothermal energy and solar power promote energy efficiency. Thoughtful ecological site design including rain gardens, native landscaping, and planned future green roof contribute to environmental resiliency. And low-impact, durable materials were selected for longevity, reduced maintenance, and lower lifecycle impacts. All these design choices were woven into the fabric of the house to elevate the human experience while addressing the practical needs of everyday living.

JURY COMMENTS (if applicable)

The alignment of pool, entry, and stairs intersected by a long horizontal clerestory on the second level is very successful. Additionally, the strong contrasts of the material palette add to the depth and complexity of the massing, yet the interior space planning is refreshingly simple, functional, and refined.

This project takes full advantage of the constrained site to set up a strong relationship between the parts of the house, the architecture and the landscape. It demonstrates the architectural power that a strong axial plan figure translated to simple volumes with material restraint can have. 

The project aspires to be a sanctuary and feels every bit as if it accomplishes this goal. This home is an absolute standout - exceptionally well detailed inside and out. Love the simplicity of the interior stair. Beautiful finishes, particularly the patterned wood paneling. 

Edgemoor House II demonstrates a strong balance of architectural quality, environmental performance, and sensitivity to its residential context. The clerestory windows along the front entry elevation are particularly successful, bringing natural light deep into the interiors while maintaining privacy from neighboring homes. The geometry of the house is thoughtfully used to create protected, private outdoor spaces while maintaining strong connections to the landscape. Inside, the refined material palette elevates the experience, particularly the wood veneer walls, which are treated almost as pieces of art. Combined with the project’s integrated geothermal, solar, rain garden, and native landscape strategies, the result is a sophisticated residence where privacy, natural light, materiality, landscape, and sustainability reinforce one another.

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. Entry facade | Jennifer Hughes
2. Entry facade | Jennifer Hughes
3. Foyer detail | Jennifer Hughes
4. Rear facade detail | Jennifer Hughes
5. Front entry detail | Jennifer Hughes
6. Rear facade | Jennifer Hughes
7. Kitchen | Jennifer Hughes
8. Circulation spine | Jennifer Hughes