Project: Mount Vernon View House
Architecture: Wiedemann Architects
Contractor: Carl Petty Associates
Interior Design: Vivian Braunohler, Braunohler Design Associates
Location: Mount Vernon, Maryland, United States
Year: 2022
Photo Credits: Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography LLC
Perched on Maryland’s Potomac River directly across from historic Mount Vernon, the Mount Vernon View House by Wiedemann Architects embraces its extraordinary setting while preserving the treasured view shed. The design team balanced the client’s desire for sweeping river vistas with Mount Vernon’s preference for a home that recedes into the surrounding Federal parkland.
Stepped-Back L-Shaped Plan and Screened Glazing
To respect the shoreline and mature trees, the architects configured an L-shaped footprint that steps back from the riverbank. As you approach, glimpses of Mount Vernon unfold through openings, and most interior rooms frame the distant estate. Rather than cover the river side with floor-to-ceiling glass, the team matched the glazing area of the original one-story house and then concealed the upper windows behind a screened porch. In doing so, they balanced daylight, ventilation, and protected sightlines.
Materials That Merge with the Landscape
Meanwhile, cedar shingles clad the exterior, echoing the surrounding woodland canopy, and native fieldstone anchors the base of the house to its riverside setting. This material palette helps the home dissolve into its context, ensuring that your eye travels first to the river and the neoclassical mansion beyond, rather than the new building.
Regulatory Collaboration and Sustainable Strategies
Since the site falls within a Critical Area and within view of a National Historic Landmark, the project team worked closely with state regulators, the National Park Service, and Mount Vernon’s preservation office. They preserved and planted native tree species to maintain the property’s forest character. Furthermore, they donated the dismantled original house for reuse, incorporated recycled interior materials, and installed a high-efficiency HVAC system, comprehensive insulation, all-LED lighting, natural ventilation, and insulated glazing. These strategies combined achieve an exceptionally energy-efficient, low-impact home.
Compact Design, Generous Living
Although the house maintains a modest footprint, it accommodates large family gatherings with ease. The outdoor courtyard created by the L-shape embraces the river’s curve, crafting a protected terrace for al fresco dining or quiet contemplation of the Potomac. At the same time, the interior plan flows fluidly from public living areas to private bedrooms, each benefiting from carefully framed views or filtered light.
By weaving heritage preservation, landscape integration, and sustainable performance into a single design, Mount Vernon View House demonstrates how new architecture can honor the past while fully engaging its natural setting.
