Forest Cathedral

By Dylan Roche | Photography by Peak Visuals

Architect Carib Daniel Martin’s clients came to him with inspirational images from homes out West: homes featuring white stucco exteriors surrounded by beautiful landscaping. “This was the vibe they wanted for their house,” he recalls. Such a project put Martin—who describes himself as a “modernist at heart”—right in his element. His design works with the property’s lush green surroundings and the owners’ extensive art collection to create a home that reflects the best of modern design: clean, airy, and open, but never aloof or impersonal.

Natural materials on the home’s exterior give the impression it is part of its surroundings. Natural stucco is punctuated with cedar siding and stonework. “I like the use of stone and wood and breaking down the lines between inside and outside,” Martin explains. “The colors in the locally sourced stones bring the entire look of the exterior together, as the light gray matches the stucco, the dark gray matches the framing around the windows, and the brown matches the wood. It stitches the whole material palette into one element.”

This design defies the idea of the “steel-and-glass box” houses the layman might associate with modern design, such as those characteristic of renowned architect Mies van der Rohe. Martin tops this house, built by Classic Homes of MD, with a gable roof that, like the natural materials, gives the aesthetic just a touch of the traditional home. “The gable roof is such a critical piece,” he says. “Even though so much of the house has the hard, flat top of the stucco line, we wanted to punctuate that with the gable roof to make it clear this is a home.”

Before even going through the front door, the home offers a variety of experiences. Part of the sloping lawn is leveled off and walled in to create a zen garden, and the covered front stoop sits alongside a reflecting pool. Statuary from the owners’ art collection adds to the atmosphere.

Through the front door—which stands 8 feet tall and 4.5 feet wide, swinging on a central pivot—the home opens into an expansive living space. Martin describes it as being almost like a cathedral, with soaring ceilings and the sunlight shining through the large windows, creating dappled patterns from the trees outside. “There’s this warmth and niceness to it,” he says.

The different experiences continue throughout the house. Lighting and ceiling beams create zones of space, including the dining room, kitchen, and formal living room, all of which look out onto the rear deck and the trees beyond. “Even though it’s one big room, there’s always a variety of experiences as you’re going through the day and enjoying the different functionalities,” Martin explains.

The design creates opportunities for privacy, such as the eating nook off to the side of the kitchen, with its low ceiling, or the den, with its sliding barn door that closes it off when desired. “Let’s say they have guests over, and they want to have their own little sitting room, and they want to let their guests be in the main space,” Martin says. “Then they can close it off. But for their day-to-day living, they can leave it open.”

Additionally, the bedrooms offer privacy tucked away from the main space, with the primary suite having its own foyer and the guest suite for visitors having its own private bathroom. “It’s all on one level,” Martin says of the bedrooms, noting that this is ideal for aging in place. “But it still provides privacy apart from the main house.”

These bedroom spaces offer a coziness that’s different from the spaciousness and openness of the main part of the house. Martin explains that the bedrooms were designed and scaled to fit the furniture and no more. “We didn’t make the rooms bigger than they needed to be,” he says. “It’s a nice play between the large open space and these private, quiet areas.”

This sense of privacy in the bedrooms is enhanced by a bold interior decorating plan by designer Myron Wolman. A dark and moody color palette with shades of black and gray creates the sense of being tucked away in a calm space perfect for slumber.

This house proves the true power of modern design: It can feel warm. It can feel natural. It can feel inviting and personal.

The combination of natural stone and stucco lend character to the home’s exterior.

Expansive windows bring in plenty of natural light.

Light fixtures and ceiling beams create designated spaces.

The bedrooms were built to be no larger than necessary to accommodate the furniture, creating a sense of privacy.

Architecture: Carib Daniel Martin Architecture+Design, Kensington, Maryland. | Construction: Classic Homes of Maryland, North Bethesda, Maryland. | Engineering: Benning & Associates, Gaithersburg, Maryland; structBIM Engineers, Sterling, Virginia. | Interior Design: Myron Wolman, Myron Wolman Designs.

Forest Cathedral

Forest Cathedral

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