Photo Credit: John Cole Photography

FLINT HILL

Flint Hill, Virginia.  Gardner Architects LLC.

Rappahannock County, located in the northern Piedmont region Virginia, and adjacent to Shenandoah National Park, is the home for our project at Flint Hill. Much of the land in Rappahannock County consists of small mountains that culminate in the west at the Blue Ridge mountains of Shenandoah National Park. The county is primarily rural in nature, and as a certified International Dark-Sky Park it is one of the last places on the East Coast with a view of the Milky Way. These characteristics - rolling, mountainous, foothills to the Shenandoah, with clear skies allowing views for great distances - form the context for this project.

The project comprises distinct living and sleeping wings, a carport, a pool, a garden, and a bocce court. Borrowing architectural forms from regional farm outbuildings like grain storage sheds, the home's primary axes are split upon entry to frame dramatic, unfolding views of the mountains.

Facing a building directly west to capture prime views typically runs counter to conventional solar design, but the project defies this limitation through an advanced performance strategy:

  • Active Shading: Deep terrace porches combined with exterior motorized shades mitigate intense afternoon sun.

  • High-Performance Infrastructure: A high-performance building envelope, advanced mechanical systems, and an 8kW photovoltaic array comprise the passive and active systems of the home.

  • Exceptional Efficiency: Together, these strategies earned the home an impressive HERS rating of 21.

Moving through the compound, the indoor-outdoor transition feels effortless, using continuous materials like tile and cast-stone pavers to blend living spaces with the screen porch and pool decks. The architecture is anchored to the hillside by a tiered landscape strategy that transitions naturally from manicured garden to native meadows, preserving the bucolic character of the valley.

Awards + Recognition:

  • AIA Maryland - Honor Award - Flint Hill - 2025

  • AIA Maryland - Sustainability Award - Flint Hill - 2025

  • AIA Potomac Valley - Honor Award - Flint Hill - 2025

  • Your Modern Cottage - Award for New Modern Cottage - 2024

    • “Massing clearly describing public and private, are composed with a clear unifier – that the opposing vertical and horizontal pieces each connects to vistas and views. The outdoor spaces are fully an extension of the living spaces and exemplify continuous engagement with the site," says Amy Alper, Architect "The massing also responds to sustainably strategies as well as a clear nod to the agrarian setting. Beyond the practicalities of environmental stewardship, this home sets the stage for enjoyment by family and friends.” 

  • AIA Northern Virginia - Design Award of Merit - Flint Hill - 2024

  • Home & Design - Merit Award - Flint Hill - 2024

  • Flint Hill - Home & Design Idea Book 2024

  • Flint Hill - Mountain High - Home & Design 2024

  • Peak Performance: Rappahannock House Angles for a View - ArchitectureDC - 2024

Project Team

  • Gardner Architects LLC - Architect

  • 1200AE Architectural Engineers PLLC / Cobb Architectural Engineers - Structural Engineer

  • Gregg Bleam Landscape Architects - Landscape Architect

  • Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath - Kitchen Cabinet Design

  • Josh Catlett Engineering - MEP Engineer

  • Thom Marston - Energy Modeler

  • Illuminations - Lighting Selections

  • Willoughby - General Contractor

  • John Cole Photography - Photography