EQ D E S I G N
A MODERN FARMHOUSE Location: Virginia Architects: Wiedemann Architects
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ANICE HOACHLANDER, HOACHLANDER DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY
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ocated in a co-housing community in rural Virginia horse country, this new home takes inspiration from traditional farmhouses in both form and materials, yet it remains distinctly modern. Wiedemann Architects of Bethesda, Maryland, was selected to design a custom home on a steeply sloping lot with views of an adjoining meadow and distant mountains. Greg Wiedemann and his associate, Felix Gonzalez, sought to create a modern interpretation of the farmhouse vernacular using fiber-cement siding, fieldstone walls, and a standing-seam metal roof. Although the design recalls the memory of a traditional farmhouse, it remains convincingly contemporary with metal-clad gable ends and a soaring screen porch. The house is intentionally narrow to allow for cross ventilation and orientation to both views. Super-insulated walls, automated shading systems, radiant floor heating, and a geothermal system provide a highly energy-efficient home. In addition, a cupola on the roof contains a whole house fan that provides natural cooling. Built into the hillside, the home is arranged on two levels, one for the owner and a lower level for guests, with direct connection to a terrace on the downhill side. In addition to two guest bedrooms, the lower level includes an independent-living unit that could be rented or used by a caregiver to allow the owner to age in place. The upper, loft-like level includes an 11-foot-tall living space and a master suite that overlooks a side garden. Within the open plan, careful attention to the design of millwork/cabinets create specialized and multifunctional use of the space. Their function is often concealed from view, including a cabinet adjoining the kitchen island that doubles as an office desk. The owner wanted a country home where she could garden and enjoy the outdoors. Her modern farmhouse offers her that—as well as a community dedicated to maintaining the bucolic hamlet that they all share.
54 | EQ E Q UE S T R I A N L I V IN I N G | D ECEMB ER/ J AN UARY | 2017 | 2018