Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Carmichael Residence
Carmichael Residence
Bethesda, MD, United States
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Carmichael Residence
Bethesda, MD, United States
Whereas general consensus in the neighborhood assumed this worn-down mid-century modern residence would be razed in favor of a developer funded spec-home, the future owners saw otherwise. As two architects, they recognized that the house, though requiring substantial alterations, held tremendous promise for their growing family. While remaining sensitive to the modernist aesthetic of the home and surrounding neighborhood they understood the design problem as one of a curatorial process of simplification and editing; rather than one of expansion or addition.
The resultant design exploits the relationships between the interior living spaces, the central courtyard and the rear woods in order to blur the reading of interior and exterior space to create a unique spatial experience as one moves thru the home. To do so, the design retains the existing U-shaped footprint that embraces the central courtyard, while carefully enhancing the interior layout.
The original plan of the northern side of the house included several dark rooms which were isolated from the central courtyard. In order to improve the flow between the spaces and strengthen their relationships to the exterior spaces, interior divisional partitions were removed. The resulting continuous space creates an open kitchen / dining / family / living room which extends itself around the central courtyard. In addition, the central courtyard was transformed from an under-utilized formal entry point into a functional exterior living room which also serves to provide nearly continuous interior-exterior-interior views while flooding the house with natural light and ventilation throughout the day.
A kitchen island was designed to be oversized in order to provide a multi-functional work surface that supports all surrounding living spaces (den, kitchen and dining). Its positioning allows it to act as both a central focal point and a discrete spatial divider. All other kitchen appliances and storage spaces are consolidated within a thickened exterior wall.
The original plan for the southern side of the house included a dark, double-loaded corridor serving 4 small bedrooms (two of which shared an exterior wall with the entry courtyard) and 2 bathrooms. In order to simplify the relationship between living (public) and sleeping (private) spaces, the circulation corridor was relocated and placed adjacent to the courtyard providing for a direct relationship to the exterior as one walks to and from the bedrooms. Adjacent to the new corridor, a buffer zone of storage and bathroom spaces creates a threshold condition between the three new rooms. The placement of this zone accentuates the experience of moving between the brightly illuminated open space of the living and circulation spaces and the dimly lit, protected space of the bedrooms. The new master suite reorganized the original bedroom, bathroom and library spaces into a more functional layout while maximizing its physical, visual and experiential connection to the exterior.
The original plan for the service spaces created an awkward informal entry sequence. In order to improve the entry sequence, the support spaces (laundry, closet, storage, bathroom) were reorganized and a new informal entry point was introduced from the carport. The new entry sequence now takes one past a two-story space which connects the main level to a basement recreation room while flooding it with light. The entry sequence concludes as one enters the main kitchen / dining / living space on axis with the kitchen island.
The palette was intentionally restrained in order to allow the dynamic seasonal conditions (summer greenery, fall foliage, winter snows and spring blossoms) to play a role in the material palate and affect the experience of home as much as possible. White walls are contrasted with walnut stained, FSC certified, wide-plank Ash flooring. White lacquered kitchen cabinets are intended to blend with the wall surfaces. White granite counter tops provide a figured relief to the minimal palette.
The resultant design exploits the relationships between the interior living spaces, the central courtyard and the rear woods in order to blur the reading of interior and exterior space to create a unique spatial experience as one moves thru the home. To do so, the design retains the existing U-shaped footprint that embraces the central courtyard, while carefully enhancing the interior layout.
The original plan of the northern side of the house included several dark rooms which were isolated from the central courtyard. In order to improve the flow between the spaces and strengthen their relationships to the exterior spaces, interior divisional partitions were removed. The resulting continuous space creates an open kitchen / dining / family / living room which extends itself around the central courtyard. In addition, the central courtyard was transformed from an under-utilized formal entry point into a functional exterior living room which also serves to provide nearly continuous interior-exterior-interior views while flooding the house with natural light and ventilation throughout the day.
A kitchen island was designed to be oversized in order to provide a multi-functional work surface that supports all surrounding living spaces (den, kitchen and dining). Its positioning allows it to act as both a central focal point and a discrete spatial divider. All other kitchen appliances and storage spaces are consolidated within a thickened exterior wall.
The original plan for the southern side of the house included a dark, double-loaded corridor serving 4 small bedrooms (two of which shared an exterior wall with the entry courtyard) and 2 bathrooms. In order to simplify the relationship between living (public) and sleeping (private) spaces, the circulation corridor was relocated and placed adjacent to the courtyard providing for a direct relationship to the exterior as one walks to and from the bedrooms. Adjacent to the new corridor, a buffer zone of storage and bathroom spaces creates a threshold condition between the three new rooms. The placement of this zone accentuates the experience of moving between the brightly illuminated open space of the living and circulation spaces and the dimly lit, protected space of the bedrooms. The new master suite reorganized the original bedroom, bathroom and library spaces into a more functional layout while maximizing its physical, visual and experiential connection to the exterior.
The original plan for the service spaces created an awkward informal entry sequence. In order to improve the entry sequence, the support spaces (laundry, closet, storage, bathroom) were reorganized and a new informal entry point was introduced from the carport. The new entry sequence now takes one past a two-story space which connects the main level to a basement recreation room while flooding it with light. The entry sequence concludes as one enters the main kitchen / dining / living space on axis with the kitchen island.
The palette was intentionally restrained in order to allow the dynamic seasonal conditions (summer greenery, fall foliage, winter snows and spring blossoms) to play a role in the material palate and affect the experience of home as much as possible. White walls are contrasted with walnut stained, FSC certified, wide-plank Ash flooring. White lacquered kitchen cabinets are intended to blend with the wall surfaces. White granite counter tops provide a figured relief to the minimal palette.