Notable Architectural Homes in the Washington Metropolitan Area
The marketplace for high-end homes in the Washington, DC Metro area can include noteworthy designs from the regions’ top architects. These masters of structure often partner with well-known interior designers, as well as landscape architects, in order to deliver an integrated package that transitions seamlessly from inside to outside. These notable designs can be anything from a brand-new house from top-to-bottom or a complex renovation of an existing property.
From modern and cutting edge to timeless and elegant, we’re taking a look at some upscale creations that have caught our eyes recently. If there is a common denominator, it is the care, the attention to detail, and the determination to create unique and luxurious lifestyle environments in the nation’s capital and its nearby suburbs.
A DAVID JAMESON HOUSE IN KENT
Let’s start with 3131 Chain Bridge Road in the posh Kent neighborhood in Washington, DC. This six-bedroom home with its cubist shapes and bronze exterior panels is a recent creation from highly acclaimed architect David Jameson. The 12,200 square foot home was built in 2020 and is currently offered for sale at $9,995,000. Of course, the status could change at any time. The house sits on a rise adjacent Battery Kemble Park, with giant window walls and a green roof terrace offering panoramic views of the region. With 12-foot ceilings, a kitchen that resembles a subdued art installation, and a saltwater swimming pool with cabana, this property is a true showcase.
OVERLOOKING ROCK CREEK PARK
Designed by Marshall Moya, the visually striking home at 2815 Woodland Drive overlooking Rock Creek Park in Washington’s Massachusetts Avenue Heights neighborhood was recently listed at $14,500,000. This unique five-bedroom property with eight baths and 14,697 square feet of interior space has a style that melds modernism with Deco influences, such as the curved roof overhangs. There is a 20-foot tall Great Room, multiple levels of contemporary design, a sleek temperature controlled wine tasting room, a large home theater with terraced leather seating, an exercise room with full bath and sauna, a heated saltwater pool with infinity waterfall, incredible outside lounging areas, and an eight-car garage.
AN ENGLISH COUNTRY MANOR HOME IN MCLEAN
Not all designer homes are modern in nature. Take for example 1937 Birch Road in McLean, Virginia, currently under contract after listing for $5,400,000. Originally built in 2006 and designed by Rob Morris, the 12,640 square foot mansion on two acres of lush land offers an English Country Manor design with wood shingled gable roofs and soaring 18-foot ceilings. There are eight bedrooms, 7.5 baths, and a separate 100 year-old renovated guest cottage. This is an estate meant for entertaining, as well as quiet retreat, with numerous rooms and suites spread out over multiple levels, along with balconies, terraces, a sparking swimming pool, gardens, and expansive lawns. The home presents authentic Old World charm, incorporating centuries old, renovated details that have been repurposed from other manors.
INSPIRED BY BAUHAUS AND NEWLY REVAMPED
A recent sale in Bethesda, Maryland merges early and current modernism for an incredible overall package. This Bauhaus-inspired classic at 5216 Abington Road was designed in 1933 by New York-based architects William Huntington and Robert Hutchins. Affectionately dubbed “Ringside” by the original owners, the 2.6-acre estate overlooking the Dalecarlia Reservoir and Washington, was recently renovated by Richard Williams, resulting in a sleek and sophisticated home that furthers the unity between nature and interior spaces. The 7,427 square foot home with six bedrooms and eight baths sold in March 2023 for $8,450,000. Five of the bedrooms are brand new, with other features including a stunning minimalist kitchen, a saltwater swimming pool, a pool house with a climate controlled gym, and tennis courts.
NEW CONSTRUCTION IN OBSERVATORY CIRCLE
With stone-and-stucco cubist sections coming together to form a triangular, this modern home at 3612 Massachusetts Avenue in Washington’s Observatory Circle is a rare example of new construction in a historic area. Developed by Hashim Hassan of INLE Development and designed by architect Douglas Soe Lin, the property is the result of a teardown of a 1954 brick Rambler. This absolutely stunning home uses locally sourced rock to fashion a stoney exterior paying homage to the nearby Washington National Cathedral. The 6,000 square foot house with five bedrooms and 7.5 baths was completed in 2022, ultimately selling for $4,500,000. With four levels of living space served by a glass elevator, the distinctive residence is topped off by a giant rooftop terrace with parquet wood floors, offering direct views of the cathedral and the city.
ROBERT GURNEY'S RECREATION IN SPRING VALLEY
Based in Washington, DC, Robert Gurney is one of America’s best-known architects. His firm handles both brand-new creations and notable remakes of existing properties. The house at 5063 Overlook Road NW in Spring Valley was originally built in 1954 before being reimagined by Gurney as a refreshing blend of traditional and contemporary ideals. Using materials such as limestone, teak, beech, and rosewoods, the construction team delivered a residence with massive main level windows providing a natural transition to the leafy and well-manicured exterior grounds. Wooden wall treatments, a Euro-styled gourmet kitchen reminiscent of a modern restaurant, incredible sleeping quarters, and a lap pool inside an atrium-like setting, are just a few of features of this memorable home that sold for $3,850,000 in 2022.
As evidenced by these six properties with different backstories, price points, and completion dates, the Washington, DC area presents one of the nation’s most eclectic landscapes. From antiques to all-new construction, the possibilities are endless. We hope you enjoyed this snapshot of notable home designs in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. To learn more about architecturally significant homes for sale in the region, please call Andre Perez at District Partners at Compass, 202-400-3040.
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