Anne Gummerson Photography
In a rural enclave experiencing an influx of vaguely traditionalist suburban-style development, this new riverfront home strikes a blow for a more informed and local historicism. Designed for a newly retired couple with long-standing ties to the area, the building makes a fluent statement in 19th-century Maryland Eastern Shore vernacular. The rambling asymmetry of the massing suggests a building that grew in stages; the proportions of the two-over-two windows are just right; and the exterior dresses up with corbels, columns, and barge boards without turning precious.
Architect Charles E. Anthony’s plan arrays major rooms parallel to the river, but resists making grandiose gestures toward the view. His interior detailing, while not farmhouse-humble, reflects both confidence and restraint in its subtle bending of the rules.
Our judges praised the house for its balanced elevations and “crisp, old-school detailing,” deeming the result “quite beautiful and appropriate to its setting.” One called it “a more composed, cleaner version of what 99 percent of America wants.”
Project Credits
Entrant/Architect: Charles E. Anthony Architects, Annapolis, Md.
Builder: Winchester Construction Co., Crownsville, Md.
Landscape architect: Crowther & Associates, Annapolis
Living space: 4,243 square feet
Site: 1.54 acres
Construction cost: $375 per square foot (including site work, utilities, and outbuildings)
Photographer: Anne Gummerson Photography
Product Specs
Bathroom fittings: Kohler Co., TOTO USA; Bathroom fixtures: Grohe America; Bathroom and kitchen cabinets, garage doors: Ivan C. Dutterer Inc.; Doors, windows: Dover Windows and Doors; Paints/stains/wall finishes: Benjamin Moore & Co., The Sherwin-Williams Co.
