Merit Award Contemporary Architecture
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect

Challenged to design a modern home in a busy Arlington locale, Robert Gurney envisioned a residence that would embrace—rather than shy away from—its surroundings. “We designed the house in a horizontal language to respect the scale of neighboring houses,” notes the architect. The compact, three-bedroom abode boasts open, light-filled spaces where large walls of glass provide plenty of daylight and views; motorized screens control solar gain and privacy. Conceived to tread lightly on its footprint, the home employs efficient mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems along with durable, low-maintenance building elements. Says Gurney, “Material transparency paired with a low garden brings a connection to suburban street life that other houses on the street
do not achieve.”

The architect borrowed from the modernism of the 1920s—the same era as many of its neighbors.”
— Simon Jacobsen, jurist

Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA; Matt Stephens, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect. Interior Design: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors. Builder: Washington Landmark Construction. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects.