Single Family Home | Loblolly House | Taylors Island | Maryland | Kieran Timberlake

Named for the tall pines that characterize its site on the Chesapeake Bay, this 2,200 square-foot single family residence seeks to deeply fuse the natural elements of this barrier island to architectural form. Positioned between a dense grove of loblolly pines and a lush foreground of saltmeadow cordgrass and the bay, the architecture is formed about and within the elements of trees, tall grasses, the sea, the horizon, the sky and the western sun that define the place of the house.......more

van Sweden Residence Sherwood, Maryland,USA Designed By Sorg Architects

Sorg Architects found design inspiration for a landscape architect's weekend retreat in the utilitarian wood and metal structures associated with local fishing, oyster and crabbing industries of its Chesapeake Bay area setting.

The design takes advantage of the expansive views, is built to withstand frequent inclement weather and allows the owner to experiment with the landscape.

The materials used for the main house and guesthouse with connecting courtyard -- concrete block, marine plywood, sheet metal -- are commonly used, rugged, and inexpensive.

A 140 ft. long concrete garden wall meanders through the site in a series of asymmetrical planes and steps, and organizes the building elements. Interior walls are paneled in maple veneered plywood with exposed fasteners, floors are wash-painted concrete, and glazed western facades dramatically reflect the often dramatic weather and the Chesapeake Bay.

Low horizontal elements -- raised planked decks, and inserted landscaping -- "float" the residence over the surrounding natural meadow....more

Client: James van Sweden

Woodvalley House,Pikesville, Maryland, USA By ZIGER/SNEAD

At the end of a quiet residential street lined with low-slung 1960s ranch-style homes, the Woodvalley House provides its owner a contemporary, private retreat. The house, nestled into the hillside to minimize the scale of its 6200 square feet, affords direct and unobstructed access and views to the landscaped rear yard, gardens, and wooded ravine beyond the edge of the property. The simply articulated main body of the house is wrapped in a zinc rain-screen system and captures the kitchen, dining and living rooms in a single, monumental 18-foot high space. Smaller spaces, including the entry, a guest bedroom/office, and the master bedroom suite are discreet cedar-sided boxes that plug into the zinc-clad bar. A custom mahogany window wall system blurs interior and exterior spaces extending the great room to the terraces, gardens, and swimming pool. High-performance glazing with ceramic frit and large overhangs mitigate solar heat gain in the summer months. Radiant concrete and tile floors and the low-angle sun keep the interior spaces light-filled and comfortable throughout the winter.

Location: Pikesville, Maryland
Area: 6,000 sf
Completion: 2008

The project included several sustainable features which promoted increased occupant comfort, health and energy efficiency, even though the team did not seek LEED Certification. For instance, high-performance glazing with special ceramic frit and large overhangs mitigate solar heat gain in the summer months. Heated radiant concrete and tile floors in combination with glazing that takes advantage of low-angle sun keep the interior spaces light-filled and comfortable throughout the winter. Imbedding the mass of the building into the hillside on the north side helps to decrease heat loss during winter and insulates the home during the hot summers. Operable glazing allows the house to be opened during temperate months to provide natural ventilation and connection with the exterior.

2009 Honorable Mention - Ceramic Tiles of Italy Design Competition
2008 Merit Award - AIA Maryland
2008 Design Award - AIA Baltimore
2008 Residential Design Award - AIA Baltimore
ZIGER/SNEAD