David Jameson Architect Inc

Matryoshka House

Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography

MATRYOSHKA HOUSE

David Jameson Architect

LOCATION
Bethesda, United States

YEAR
2007

CATEGORY
Houses

AREA
3200.0 ft²

Text description provided by architect.

Located in Bethesda, Maryland this small house is organized as a series of volumes nested one inside another. 

At the core of the volumes is a suspended meditation chamber. Follow the break for more photographs and drawings of Matryoshka House by David Jameson Architect.

Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography

The suspended box acts as the physical and spiritual center of the project. The internal energy of the meditation chamber is encapsulated within an open glowing frame.

An alternating tread stair engages the participant to deliberately ascend the threshold to the meditation chamber.

The meditation chamber is surrounded by a wooden container which encases the living areas of the house.

Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography

This shell is in turn cradled by stucco walls serving as a protective layer and grounding the house to the earth.

The in-between spaces of the nested volumes are strategically sliced to allow the sun to project lines of light within.

Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography

By separating the three shells, the interstitial spaces allow light to become an architectural material that activates the interior.


Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography
Matryoshka House
© Paul Warchol Photography


Matryoshka House
Plan
Matryoshka House
Plan

David Jameson Architect Inc
T +1 240 4830377
David Jameson Architect Inc
7800 Wisconsin Ave #200, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States