Hawk's Nest
Hawk’s Nest is a home and studio for a sculptor from Paris who was drawn to the site, an abandoned limestone quarry, with its sweeping views of the Potomac River. Our goal was to create a simple form that was simultaneously separate from and intertwined with nature. Two simple cast concrete volumes rise seamlessly from the limestone creating a framed view of the landscape beyond and a perch for the steel and glass structure above. The grid of steel columns modulates the space and creates framed views of the ever changing play of nature, blurring the line between inside and outside. Ipe, allowed to weather naturally, provides a material counterpoint to the steel and was used to create privacy, balconies that extend the interior space, and bridges that leave the site otherwise untouched.
The residence is designed to enhance the experience of the nature and inspire the client’s work in her ceramic studio and metal studio. Dark concrete floors with radiant floor heat provide warmth, while the narrow plan affords natural cross ventilation. Primary colors were interlaced within the black and white interior spaces. The goal was to create an atelier that was of the place and, at the same time, provides an armature for a greater appreciation of the natural beauty of the landscape.
Project team includes:
- Contractor: Carl Petty Associates
- Structural Engineer: Linton Engineering
- Photography: @Hoachlander Davis Photography LLC
