Reflejos de Agua y Arte

McLean, VA, United States

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Reflejos de Agua y Arte

McLean, VA, United States

Firm

estudio_MBC

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2021

SIZE

5000 sqft - 10,000 sqft

BUDGET

Undisclosed

If you watch nature long enough, over the course of seasons, you’ll see a compelling drama unfold. It was that experience, of watching the woods of McLean, Virginia, change throughout the year as they tell a story, that inspired the owners of this home to open up their residence to the forest and bring the outdoors in. The result is a space that serves as a gathering spot for family and a showcase for their collection of art and furniture, all against an ever-changing arboreal backdrop just outside of Washington, D.C.
The renovation was spearheaded by one of the owners, who is an award-winning interior designer specializing in corporate workplaces. She used her vast design experience to rethink the possibilities for the home, which was built in the 1970s and purchased by she and her husband in 2003. The couple raised their two kids there, but, with the kids having moved to New York, they’re now empty nesters. Like many in their situation, they contemplated downsizing to an apartment. However, given their Latin American roots—which emphasize the importance of family—they decided to keep the residence and transform it into a more convivial and familial environment where kids, friends and family could get together.
To accomplish that goal, they had to address the flow of the house and the size of several rooms. In particular, the dining room was too small and the family room too narrow. Because they’re a social couple who entertain on a weekly basis, they needed to resolve these issues. Thus, they enlarged the dining and family rooms to maximize daylight and views and to serve as more practical entertainment environments. They also connected all the spaces, creating a unique experience and providing options to close the kitchen and the breakfast area so that caterers can work during the couple’s parties.
However, it’s the emphasis on how the home connects to nature that’s the real focus of the renovation. With the house backing up to the woods and offering views to Pimmit Run—a stream that connects to the Potomac River—the couple decided to open the house up to the forest and bring the outdoor in through the replacement of windows and the opening of large glass doors by Fleetwood. As a result, the design frames views and enables an appreciation of the surrounding natural landscape. To complement this aspect, the couple designed the rest of the home to serve as a blank canvas for their collection of art and furniture from around the world. Throughout the space, you’ll find creations by Mario Botta, Charles and Ray Eames, and Mies van der Rohe, as well as signature lamps by Fortuny, Flos, and Artemide.
One of the home’s most striking elements is an homage to a long-gone feature: an indoor pool, which the couple’s kids enjoyed during their childhood. A reminiscence of the pool now exists in the form of a parametrically designed ceiling feature that evokes rippling water, as does the carpet pattern and color.
Overall, the home’s design is based on a simplicity of form. The use of basic shapes, fashioned with a mastery of light and materials, creates a transcendent environment. The result of the composition is a unique experience for the family, a connection to nature, and an expression of a forward-thinking humanism.