the meadow house by office mian ye deeply connects to nature and light

nudged into the natural slope of the site as a one story block, the meadow house by NYC-based office mian ye seems out of context with the mansions of potomac, maryland —  yet in harmony with its surroundings. the project visually and physically blends open exterior spaces with more private ones without compromising the integrity of either. the landscape acts as a bridge, creating a seamless flow between in and out, living and sleeping areas. 

overall exterior view of the meadow house

located within a dense american suburb, the neighborhood is lined with two and three-story houses, many of which are over 10,000 square feet. the client was adamant about departing from what is typically built in this area by constructing a smaller, single story home. by taking into consideration the site’s solar exposure and context, office mian ye reinterprets the traditional divide of american front and back yards to create living spaces deeply connected to natural light and the surrounding landscape. 

planted wooden deck and outdoor pool

the house consists of two main areas: a place to entertain and another to rest. a screened foyer leads around to the living room where a large skylight illuminates a pebble-lined garden below. in this open floor plan, the space is connected to the chef’s kitchen by contouring an open bar that divides both zones and where food is prepared and served during large gatherings — dampening the kitchen noise and commotion from the rest of the party. the bedrooms receive multiple exposures, encircling a japanese-like garden that provides an intimate gathering area for the family as well as a transition between inside and outside. the interior walls facing the courtyard include a portion of the owner’s art collection, creating a gallery space that can be viewed from within. 

large glazings provide expansive openings towards the outdoors

the plant palette is a mix of native, ornamental and edible plants selected to complement the owner’s outdoor and organic lifestyle. on one hand, a knotty cedar screen expands and contracts around all sides of the house, creating a dynamic play of light and shadow within. on the other, various species of climbing vines planted along the perimeter will transform the skin of the house – as they bloom and change colors throughout the year. as one moves around the residence, this screen creates privacy, daylight filters and framings. yet, subtractions from the screen reveal apertures for views and entries. at the living area, a large opening offers a seamless connection to the landscaped deck and pool areas.

the one-story mansion expands across the landscaped surroundings

courtyard including a japanese landscaped garden

transition between indoors and outdoors 

a large skylight illuminates a pebbled garden below, next to the chef’s kitchen

interior walls facing the courtyard include a portion of the owner’s art collection

elevation diagrams of the neighborhood mansions

rendered plan

exploded axonometric

project info:

project name: meadow house
location: potomac, maryland
type: residential
lighting megan pfeffer
landscape: gena wirth
size: 7000 sq. ft
status: completed
year: 2014

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.