Hampden Lane House

Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer
Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer

HAMPDEN LANE HOUSE

Robert Gurney Architect

LOCATION
Bethesda, United States

CATEGORY
Houses

AREA
2200.0 m2

PROJECT YEAR
2010

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Brian Tuskey

CONTRACTOR
John Thompson

ENGINEER
D. Anthony Beale LLC

Text description provided by architect.

Located in the Edgemoore community of Bethesda, the client for this project was a young, forward thinking entrepreneur with no desire for a nostalgic or revivalist style house.

Rather, the client desired a house that was efficient and with a minimal footprint, leaving the majority of the lot unoccupied by building and hardscape.

Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer
Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer

After much deliberation, it was decided to remove an existing, inefficient structure and replace it with a new one. The new house occupies one third less area than the original structure and is sited to maximize green area on the property.

Designed as a cube, the new house is approximately 2,200 square feet with no unused or underutilized spaces.

Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer
Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer

The flat roof provides an additional 1,100 square feet of outdoor living space with views of treetops and the downtown Bethesda skyline.

Fenestration in the ground faced block walls, composed of varying sized rectangular and square openings, is arranged to optimize views to the green spaces while minimizing views of adjacent houses in close proximity.

Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer
Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer

A series of landscape walls orchestrate the relationship between the street, required parking court and house. Interior spaces are open and light filled with crisp detailing.

Walnut flooring provides a rich base for white walls and millwork, designed in juxtaposition to the charcoal gray exterior walls.

Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer
Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer
Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer

This house represents a deliberate departure in both the thought process and the realization of current building trends in the neighborhood.

Instead of building a large house with pretentious ties to the rural past, this new house is smaller with a stronger relationship to the modern, urban area that Bethesda has become.

Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer
Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer
Hampden Lane House
© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer

The house is intended to be more site sensitive, environmentally conscious, and to provide comfortable, efficient living spaces.


Hampden Lane House
Floor Plans
Hampden Lane House
Floor Plans
Hampden Lane House
Site Plan


Hampden Lane House
Section
Hampden Lane House
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Elevations
Hampden Lane House
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