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Project Details
Project Story
The House on Chesapeake Bay is a blur between the three-bar bridge & a two-bar slip typology for a waterfront site in Annapolis, Maryland. Built for the sole intention of entertaining, Camp Smull plays up its charming surroundings to a level on par with its owners’ equally magnetic personalities. A dog photographer and jet setting international lecturer, the couple sought to create a contemporary retreat from daily life not only for themselves, but for their guests as well.
Marking the beginning of the narrative through the house, a 50-foot ramp sets the path into the house. Offering a glimpse of what’s ahead, upon approach the waterfront is framed through the window of the front passageway. The main level becomes the soul of the home, with the entry, a large outdoor deck, and zones for living, dining, and cooking occupying the L-shaped space. Understanding the social imperative of the plan, the path continues through connecting all social enclaves, leaving the dweller to rest upon the main deck with an idyllic view of willowy trees and floating vessels.
The initial design faced several challenges. Due to the site setback, setback from the water, and the request of the owners to preserve a large tree on site, the residual area left for a thin lot and a small footprint upon which to build. The result was an exercise in managing and maximizing limited space to fulfill function without sacrificing spatial efficiency or aesthetic.
To avoid limiting the house’s use to the warmer months, the 50 foot IPE ramp was constructed to include a radiant heat system below to melt away the winter ice. Cedar cladding and introduction of Cembonit were the chosen materials to compliment the home’s natural surroundings. Rather than interrupting the natural order, the house sits amicably among the greenery.
