Spy House of the Week: Contemporary on Edge Creek

This house was designed by an architect, Robert Stack, early in his career. He must have been inspired by our Eastern Shore rural landscape of barns and silos. The peaceful setting on Edge Creek with its southwest solar orientation no doubt was an additional inspiration for the siting of the house. The gray wood siding has been allowed to age beautifully and the layer of vertical battens add texture that cast shadows on the walls as the sun passes overhead. The gray color of the roofing combined with the weathered siding creates a monochromatic building massing that blends into the landscape. I liked how the narrow separation between the house and the detached garage was transformed into a verdant “mews” and the tall hedge at one end visually separates the back door to the kitchen from the front door to the house.

The dominant design element of the silo is a vertical element only in form. Viewed from the exterior, one might think it contained a circular stair but it is actually two cozy sitting areas on each of the two floors. The lower area at the base of the stair has a door to the deck facing the creek. The upper area is a sitting nook next to the master bedroom. The nook is open to the stair below and its railing accommodates a bookcase capped with plants to add color. The master bedroom has its own private deck for watching the sun set over the creek. The deck also provides cover from rain for the deck area below outside the dining room.

I liked how the main floor deck was elevated above grade for long views of the creek and the half-flight of steps added extra seating. The steps are framed around a mature tree that returns the favor by shading a large part of the deck. The three sets of sliding doors from the combination living and dining rooms lets the sunshine in and provides easy access to the spacious deck for summer parties after an afternoon of sailing. The sheltering trees and landscaping made this elevation quite picturesque.

For more information about this property, contact Randy Staats with Chesapeake Bay Properties at 410-820-8008 (o), 410-924-7207 (c) or [email protected], “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Spy House of the Week is an ongoing series that selects a different home each week. The Spy’s Habitat editor Jennifer Martella makes these selections based exclusively on her experience as a architect.

Jennifer Martella has pursued her dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. Her award winning work has ranged from revitalization projects to a collaboration with the Maya Lin Studio for the Children’s Defense Fund’s corporate retreat in her home state of Tennessee. Her passion for Italian food, wine and culture led her to Piazza Italian Market where she is the Director of Special Events, including weekly wine tastings and quarterly wine dinners.