A couple building a high-end contemporary house close to the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., had distinct ideas about what it should be. One person favored a Moroccan courtyard-style design; the other wanted a sustainable and well-built home.
It would be up to the architects to make it work—and they did, spectacularly.
“Our response was to create a large, delicate and transparent inner core of steel, glass and zinc, flanked with two robust concrete wings, stucco-clad, containing the private spaces,” says the website for McInturff Architects based in Bethesda, Maryland. “All three parts share a common width and structural rhythm.”
The award-winning building at 410 Chain Bridge Road in McLean, Virginia, was designed by architect Mark McInturff and his team and built by Added Dimensions Constructions.
The five-bedroom home built in 2016 contains 8,367 square feet of interior space in a balanced trio of boxes. The Potomac Valley chapter of the American Institute of Architects gave the home a design award in 2018.
It is now on the market for $9.2 million.
Skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows create an airy, light-filled atmosphere. It’s a striking home suitable for entertaining inside and out—everything from casual outdoor gatherings to formal events.
The dramatic glass facade is centered on a large living room instead of a courtyard (a nod to local weather) that “completely opens through walls of sliding glass doors to a porch, pool and terraces leading to the wooded ravine below,” the website says. Sustainable accents, such as wood louvers and motorized shades that offer protection from the sun as well as privacy, have been woven seamlessly into the home’s details.
Inside the primary level, the great room with 25-foot ceilings and a chandelier studded with Swarovski crystals sets a sophisticated European tone. Off the great room, there’s a formal dining area in one wing and a media room in the other.
The kitchen, located toward the back of the house, has top appliances as well as a sleek, wood-topped island with curves that resemble a boat. It was built by European kitchen company Alno. Floors combine three elements: white oak, white limestone and polished concrete.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom takes up an entire wing. It comes with a sitting area, walk-in closet and two bathrooms featuring a soaking tub and steam shower. Other bedrooms are located in the opposite wing.
Outside, mature trees flank the front and backyards. The landscaped backyard overlooks a creek and includes a travertine lounge patio with a gas fire pit and barbecue station. There’s also a saltwater infinity swimming pool as well as an elevator, gym and several patios.
Who might be in the market for this home?
Listing agent Fouad Talout of Long & Foster Real Estate thinks the buyer will be someone who appreciates the architecture of the “robust fortress in its design and durability.”
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