A spin around the Beltway will be worth the trip on October 5, when the DC Metro Modern Home Tour welcomes attendees on self-guided tours of six contemporary residences in Maryland and Virginia.
Among the highlights: a universally designed home by Cox Graae + Spack Architects in Garrett Park; a sustainable Arlington abode with a rooftop garden by Paola One Design LLC; and a bold Takoma Park renovation by Mark McInturff, finished in colors inspired by Richard Diebenkorn’s “Ocean Park” series. The event will also showcase a Silver Spring renovation by Kube Architecture, a new Fairfax home by architect Hyun Kim and a Great Falls residence designed by Whipple Russell Architects.
Now in its third year in DC, the tour was conceived in Austin, Texas, by the Modern Architecture + Design Society to introduce innovative contemporary architecture to the public. Since 2009, the group has sponsored tours in more than 25 cities in the U.S. and Canada.
“Residential architects and designers work on incredible projects,” explains MA+DS vice president Ken Shallcross, “yet only the people who live in them get to enjoy them.” Despite the dominance of traditional architecture in the DC area, he says, “it has a nice pocket of modern design and a growing community of awesome modern architects. People get to see their work and both sides get something out of it.” Tour tickets start at $40; visit mads.media.
SPEED DEMON
Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the first GT 53 4-door Coupe, which blends the high-speed performance of a sports car with versatility and comfort that make it suitable for everyday use. The first four-door sports car to be developed by AMG, the car boasts a sinuous shape and “shark nose” grille. The coupe reaches a top speed of 195 mph and in-line 6-cylinder and V8 engines boast outputs ranging from 429 to 630 horsepower. From $99,000; mbusa.com
CAMERA READY
In collaboration with world-renowned musician and artist Lenny Kravitz, Leica unveiled its new M Monochrom Drifter set specifically conceived for black-and-white photography. It features the Leica M Monochrom camera, covered in sepia-brown, vegan snakeskin, along with two lenses—one of which is ideal for portraiture and the other best suited for travel and street photography. Only 125 sets of the limited-edition collection will be sold worldwide. $23,950; leicacamerausa.com
COLOR YOUR WORLD
The Hue smart lighting system by Philips allows users to switch among 16 million hues with ease using the Hue Bluetooth app or the Hue Bridge device. The system employs energy-efficient LED bulbs, available in three color ranges: white, white ambiance, and white-and-color ambiance. $90; meethue.com.
MODERN VIBE Marvin Modern—Marvin Windows and Doors’ collection for contemporary homes—offers energy-efficient glass in a sleek, simplified profile that brings the outdoors in. The Marvin Modern line includes a direct-glaze window (pictured), multi-slide doors and casement and awning windows. marvin.com/modern
GO FOR BAROQUE A motif from the Baroque period (circa 1600 to 1750) embellishes an eponymous line of decorative windows, part of Hy-Lite’s Home Designer Collection. The pattern is created using silkscreened, tempered privacy glass on which clear lines form the design. Available in square and rectangular sizes. hy-lite.com
CURTAIN CALL Loewen’s Timber Curtain Wall system seamlessly opens to the outdoors with expansive windows and doors framed in fir or mahogany. The customizable units come as casements, awnings and French and sliding doors, in monolithic, dual or triple-glazed options. Available locally through The Sanders Company. thesanderscompany.com; loewen.com.
CLIMATE CONTROL NanaWall’s new folding-glass wall system, WA67, features extruded aluminum cladding mounted on a wood core and secured by a spacer bar. This design addresses differing expansion rates between materials, promoting durability in any climate. The solid-wood interior frame is protected by rain-screen cladding. nanawall.com
QUIET TIME Zola Windows’ Sanctuary Glass was designed to mitigate noise. Constructed of three thick panes surrounding gas-filled cavities and a layer of sound-absorbing lamination, the acoustic-glass windows are also tightly sealed for energy efficiency. Available in a variety of sizes and widths to suit different needs. zolawindows.com
