Image Credit: Gardner Architects LLC

On The Bluff

Severna Park, Maryland.  Gardner Architects LLC.

This house on a bluff joins an established neighborhood, sited intentionally along the ridge line to celebrate expansive views of the river below. Central to the design is a prominent breezeway that acts as a structural lens, framing the water and weaving the landscape into the daily experience of the home.

The interior layout prioritizing openness, connection, and light:

  • The Central Hub: The kitchen serves as the geometric and social heart of the house, orchestrating the flow between the interconnected living and dining rooms and the exterior entertaining terraces.

  • The Gallery Axis: Sleek, north-facing galleries line the arrival side of the home, creating a beautiful architectural corridor that bridges the breezeway to the private, south-facing quarters.

  • Universal Exposure: Every single habitable room faces south, ensuring that daily life is constantly oriented toward the river views and natural daylight.

Climate Response & Performance - Because of its total southern exposure, the home requires a sophisticated response to solar geometry. Built-in, calculated shading systems provide full solar protection in the summer while permitting passive solar heat gain during the winter. This thoughtful architectural envelope is paired with a state-of-the-art mechanical suite—including a ground-source geothermal heat pump and a solar photovoltaic system—ensuring the home offsets its energy footprint while providing unparalleled indoor air quality and comfort.

Project Team:

  • Gardner Architects LLC

  • CobbAE Architectural Engineers PLLC

  • Campion Hruby Landscape Architects

  • Charles P. Johnson Associates

  • Wyant Heating and Cooling

  • Jay Hall and Associates

  • Coventry Lighting

  • Steele Engineering

  • GeoLabs