HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE TIDEWATER STYLE AND WHAT MATERIALS AND ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT?
As is the case with many American vernacular styles, the Tidewater style found in the Chesapeake Bay region is characterized by simple geometric shapes, uncomplicated rooflines, windows that are typically double-hung and walls clad in one dominant material: brick, wood-lap or vertical-board siding, or cedar shingle. Paired chimneys often accompany these simple forms. Other common architectural elements include deep porches and balconies—which, far from being truncated, actually facilitate indoor-outdoor activity and blend inside and outside living.
Tidewater style draws deeply on the historic richness of the region in its vernacular forms, and on its roots in both farming and maritime building traditions. Precedents can be drawn from Colonial to early 20th-century farm buildings, many of which are still standing. Materials and architectural elements can be traditionally reproduced or abstracted into modern forms. For instance, the project pictured here drew the form of the main house from early 20th-century farmhouses in the area and modeled the other buildings on farm structures that would have been related to it. We simplified and modernized these familiar forms through materials, varied windows and glass hyphens. —Devin Kimmel, AIA, ASLA, Kimmel Studio Architects, Annapolis, Maryland
When designing a large, Tidewater style house on the Wye River, Kimmel Studio Architects reinterpreted the vernacular language of the Chesapeake Bay area with a modern edge. Builder: Lynbrook of Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland. Photography: Pete Albert.
HOW DO HOMEBUYERS ENSURE THEY ARE PURCHASING A HOUSE THAT'S BUILT TO WITHSTAND A WATERFRONT CLIMATE?
When purchasing a waterfront home in the Chesapeake region, buyers should ask about past issues. Waterfront houses experience more extremes than those that are land-locked; window, door, roof flashing and chimney leaks tend to be the main areas of concern—and while home inspections may reveal some of these issues, my experience is that nuisance leaks usually present themselves in hard, wind-driven rains.
Bayfront homes are typically sited with large, unobstructed views, which allows lateral rains to batter their vertical surfaces. The hardiest homes will have stout windows installed using modern techniques; any watermarks or warping will definitely be a red flag. Ask about the age of the roof and the window-and-door package, and look for tell-tale watermarks under windows or by the chimney. When was the home last painted? Painting and caulking are essential to maintaining the watertight integrity of the exterior. Does the house have gutter guards? Overflowing gutters can cause leaking due to water sheeting down the face of the home.
Waterfront homes provide much enjoyment, but vigilant maintenance is required to keep them dry and worry-free. —Matt Long, Gate One Builders LLC, Annapolis, Maryland
A historic Murray Hill home on Spa Creek was renovated in 2007, with a contemporary addition by Gate One Builders. Renovation Architecture: Fourth Street Design Studio, Annapolis, Maryland.
Photography: The Annapolis Photographer.
WHAT TIPS CAN YOU OFFER FOR DECORATING OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES BY THE WATER?
When selecting furnishings and fabrics for outdoor spaces, homeowners should first consider how long they expect their purchases to last and look good; rain, wind and dirt in the atmosphere all take their toll on both fabrics and frames. It might be worth investing in higher-quality furniture, as it will always wear longer and better.
If you choose to go with light, fresh-colored fabrics, visible dirt is unavoidable—it will settle in corners and within cords. As a result, lighter fabrics will always require more maintenance to keep clean than darker ones.
When it comes to decorating outdoor spaces on the water, be sure to consider the views and any other elements that are focal points—fire pits, for example. Choose fabrics for your furniture that blend with the frames rather than contrasting, and ensure that they also blend with the natural environment. Use small accents of color if needed. —Arlene Critzos, Interior Concepts, Inc., Annapolis, Maryland
ABOVE: Arlene Critzos and her team at Interior Concepts, Inc., decorated the living area on a slate patio overlooking Harness Creek in Annapolis. She chose comfortable rattan seating from Woodard, with muted gray fabric that blends with the surroundings, making the view center stage. The furniture is grouped around a custom gas fire pit. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland.
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY ADDRESS FLOODPLAIN AND SLOPING ISSUES WHEN LANDSCAPING ON THE WATER?
Projects within floodplains and on steep slopes require a calculated approach—especially those located on waterfront properties. When working within the critical-area buffer, we coordinate our efforts among the homeowner, engineer and state and local county representatives. The goal is to ensure the completion of a properly permitted, built and sustainable project—one that is constructed and installed correctly the first time. To control erosion in problem areas, we use biodegradable materials such as Curlex blankets, jute matting and coir-fiber logs. Complementing these materials with a mixture of native and naturalized plantings, we are able to create permanent, non-structural solutions that address site issues yet are in harmony with the surrounding environment.
The key to any successful landscaping project is experience, which enables our team to determine creative, practical solutions for any situation. —Matt Rhoderick, ASLA, McHale Landscape Design,
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
ABOVE: A weekend retreat at the mouth of the Choptank River and Broad Creek. Designed by McHale Landscape Design, the 20-acre property features a pool, spa, and volleyball and tennis courts, all overlooking the water. Builder: Winchester Construction, Millersville, Maryland.
Project of the year
Runningdog Architects
Runningdog Architects was asked to remodel a circa-1900, Federal-style row house in DC’s Kalorama neighborhood. The owners requested updated, cohesive interiors in a contemporary style that would reflect their personal taste while creating better flow, access to more natural light and a stronger connection between spaces— including those outdoors.
The most dramatic transformation was to the rear of the house, where French doors now open onto expanded decks off of the new kitchen and a guest room above it. The favorite architectural element is the new stair, which is the home’s core unifying all four floors. With light filtering in through an enlarged skylight, the language of the stair sets the tone, both inside and out.
FACTS + STATS
Runningdog Architects executes 12 to 15 projects a year ranging in price from $500,000 to $5 million. The firm has been in business for five years and employs a staff of four.
4208 Maple Terrace, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815
301-654-1800 • runningdogarchitects.com
Project of the year
Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC
The aim of this project was to create a forever home for a young family. Taking advantage of a large, private lot, Claude C. Lapp Architects designed the residence with a garage wing set at an angle to emphasize the front façade. A formal layout and an informal vibe make the interiors great for entertaining yet cozy and welcoming.
Built by M&M Builders and Contractors, LLC, the home includes such details as a built-in wine display in the dining room and a barrel-vaulted ceiling in the foyer. Traditional design elements and modern features impart transitional flair. “The owners don’t have to sacrifice comfort for style,” says principal Claude C. Lapp. “The finishes will last for years without losing their appeal.”
FACTS + STATS
Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC, has been in business since 1992 and has seven employees on staff. The firm completes 50 to 75 projects a year starting at about $300,000.
11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, Maryland 20852
301-881-6856 • cclarchitects.com
Project of the year
Purple Cherry Architects
Purple Cherry Architects was hired to renovate a turn-of-the-century, waterfront abode, tripling its size to 14,000 square feet. The owners wished to live in just one part of the house, but to be able to open the rest of it up for use when kids and grandkids are visiting.
Principal Cathy Purple Cherry and her team designed a harmonious plan that maximizes water views by retaining the home’s one-room-deep footprint and adding windows that look straight through upon approach. Highlights include an octagonal bedroom above a screened porch on the corner of the existing house. Chicago brick floors, built-ins and furniture made from reclaimed wood from trees removed during construction are a nod to the history and age of the site.
FACTS + STATS
Purple Cherry Architects has been in business for 22 years. Its staff of 15 executes 40 projects a year ranging from $1 million to $25 million.
1 Melvin Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401; 410-990-1700
701 Water Street E., Charlottesville, Virginia 22902; 434-245-2211
Project of the year
McNeill Baker Design Associates
When McNeill Baker was tapped to renovate a dated, Cape Cod-style brick home, project goals included improving traffic flow on the main level; enlarging the kitchen with laundry and pantry areas; designing a master suite with a large soaking tub; updating the existing hall bathroom; and adding a fourth bedroom on the upper level. A rec room replaced a storage area in the garage, while the remaining basement space was reconfigured as a fifth bedroom and another bath.
Zoning regulations limited the footprint of the addition, so the architects reorganized the existing space. They retained the home’s hallmark wainscoting, built-ins and tile work, ensuring that its vintage charm remained intact.
FACTS + STATS
McNeill Baker’s staff of eight to 10 maintains 10 to 15 projects a year in various phases of design and construction. Renovations, additions and new homes span $250,000 to more than $5 million.
1401 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 202, McLean, Virginia 22101
703-992-9707 • mcneillbaker.com
Project of the year
Muse Architects, PC
Muse Architects was asked to design a home in a suburban neighborhood for an artist and an economics professor. The clients requested single-level living, with public rooms, master bedroom and artist’s studio on the first floor and an office and three other bedrooms on the second. Gardens, terraces and a swimming pool needed to be sheltered from neighboring residences.
Principal Stephen Muse organized the house in a U shape, with two single-story rear wings creating a private courtyard. Primarily solid walls face the neighboring properties, but glass walls open the house to the courtyard. Hip-roofed pavilions help reduce the scale of the structure while deep eaves recall Prairie-style architecture of the owner’s previous home in Chicago.
FACTS + STATS
Muse Architects, led by Stepen Muse, FAIA and William Kirwan, AIA has been in business since 1985 and employs a staff of 15 completing 25 custom projects a year in a range of styles and sizes.
7401 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 500, Bethesda, Maryland 20814
301-718-8118 • musearchitects.com
Project of the year
AV Architects + Builders
AV Architects + Builders conceived the Titania House as a home for empty-nesters. The single-level, maintenance-free, universally adaptable structure offers loads of storage solutions and natural light.
“We’ve created a contemporary retreat, so our clients can live like they’re on vacation everyday,” says principal Francisca Alonso.
Elegant architectural forms and clean lines characterize the exterior, clad in fiber-cement panels and boasting oversized Weather Shield aluminum-clad windows and a seemingly flat roof. Interiors include an open floor plan, extra wide halls and doorways and LED lighting.
“As people hit middle age, they tend to take stock of their priorities,” Alonso notes. “They seek a lifestyle that’s more focused on simplicity.”
FACTS + STATS
AV Architects + Builders has been in business for 18 years and has a staff of six. The firm completes five to ten projects a year, ranging in price from $1 million to $3 million.
9903 Georgetown Pike, Suite 201, Great Falls, Virginia 22066
703-865-5065 • avarchitectsbuild.com
Project of the year
James McDonald Associate Architects
The owners of a lot in Great Falls, Virginia, hired James McDonald Associate Architects to design a custom home that would fuse a rustic, farmhouse aesthetic with clean-lined, modern touches. He envisioned an exterior with a large, wrap-around porch and open living spaces within.
The kitchen, family room, dining room, nook and porch are on the main floor while the second level houses the kids’ rooms and a private retreat for the parents. The owners’ suite boasts a volume ceiling and balcony.
McDonald spread the house along the lot, making its moderate size feel larger when seen from the street. The three-car garage is tucked away so as not to dominate the front facade. Inside, the rooms are open, airy and full of light.
FACTS + STATS
James McDonald Associate Architects was launched in 2009. The firm works on 20 to 30 projects a year, including renovations, custom and speculative homes. Prices range from $100,000 renovations to $12 million estates.
10135 Colvin Run Road, Suite 200, Great Falls, Virginia 22066
703-757-0036 • jamesmcdonaldarchitects.com
Project of the year
Alt Breeding Associates Architecture designs
Working with their firm’s talented interior architecture designers, Scarlett Breeding and Richard Anuskiewicz remodeled a 1980s-era, Shingle-style home on Spa Creek in Annapolis. The owners wanted space for family living and entertaining, with a focus on cooking and waterside activities. Integrating the formalities of the interior architecture and the exterior gardens was a priority.
Breeding and Anuszkiewicz imparted crisp formality to an open-plan space encompassing chef’s kitchen and an eat-in living room. “Manipulating these functional spaces to incorporate a massive existing fireplace while orienting to water views and the exterior gardens was a space-planning puzzle,” Breeding observes. A distinctively tailored look lends finishes and details a touch of sparkle.
FACTS + STATS
Alt Breeding Associates Architecture is in its 30th year. Headed by Scarlett Breeding, the firm employs nine on staff and executes 35 projects a year ranging from $500,000 to $10 million.
209 Main Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410-268-1213 • absarchitects.com
