Riverside Art and Architecture

A deep V-cut into the bank of a former farm on the Choptank River remains from the days when a ship could dock to load soy beans and corn.  The owners love this special property and its history, but had no intention of farming, instead they wanted to use the land to create green energy and a sculpture garden. The dilapidated farmhouse was torn down and a new contemporary home was built as well as a detached garage, guest house, art studio, orchard, and pool with sunken spa.

Richardson & Associates designed a long, clamshell-filled drive to go past the solar fields before the house comes into view. Single stem river birch is planted in a staggered grid to soften the first appearance of the angles and glazing of the new home. Placed in front of the birches, a Corten steel peace sign is the first artwork of the intended sculpture garden. The client wanted most of the property to be landscaped simply with a variety of grasses, lavender, and boxwood. A number of old trees were left in place as vertical mementos of another time. Around the art studio, however—which is inspired by farm structures with a standing seam roof—the outside remains spare or somewhat experimental as the owner works with the land and tries new plantings. The paving around the house is crushed marble, which is atypical but doesn’t get hot on bare feet. The house, a piece of art itself, is constructed of concrete and reclaimed wood siding and was designed by Mark Kaufman of GTM Architects. The gardens surrounding the house and the fields beyond have become part of the owners’ art collection on view from inside the house. The vast windows frame the natural world and bring the outside in. A very large pool, sunken firepit, and amphitheater-style stepped benches make for a dramatic setting at the rear of the home.

  • Architect: Mark Kaufman, GTM Architects
  • General Contractor: Jeffco Development
  • Landscape Contractor: Chick Landscaping
  • Photographer: Anice Hoachlander
A modern, multi-level home with horizontal wood-panel siding and large glass walls stands on a manicured green lawn. The house features a second-story balcony with a glass railing and an outdoor seating area on a stone patio under a roof overhang. The scene is set under a clear blue sky.
A modern two-story home with expansive glass walls overlooks a backyard pool and patio. The exterior features light-toned wood siding, a flat roof, and a manicured lawn under a bright blue sky. Comfortable outdoor furniture is arranged on the stone deck near a fire pit.
A modern, two-story house features horizontal wood-plank siding and large, rectangular glass windows. It sits behind a gravel driveway and manicured lawn under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. A small red-leafed tree stands in the foreground near the buildings entrance.
A modern two-story home with grey horizontal siding is surrounded by lush landscaping and a gravel driveway. A large, weathered metal peace sign sculpture stands in the foreground to the right, under a clear blue sky and the branches of a sprawling tree.
A modern house with gray wood and concrete siding features an open-air breezeway leading to a view of the water. The structure sits on a landscaped lawn with a stone path, surrounded by trees under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
A modern two-story home features a facade of light wood siding and smooth concrete panels under a bright blue sky. A gravel path leads to the recessed entrance, which is accented by a dark metal canopy and lush green landscaping.
A modern entryway features a glass door and transom window set into a facade of horizontal grey siding and smooth concrete panels. A dark wood overhang sits above the entrance, while the view through the door reveals an outdoor deck, a calm lake, and a blue sky.
A modern stone patio overlooks a calm lake under a bright blue sky. In the foreground, a dark table holds three small vases with sprigs of lavender, while a light-colored outdoor sofa sits beneath the homes wood-paneled overhang.
A modern two-story home features a wood-paneled upper floor and a spacious ground-level patio. The patio includes a white sofa, a sunken fire pit area, and a rectangular swimming pool, all overlooking a vast green lawn with trees under a bright blue sky.
A modern, flat-roofed house with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass walls stands beside a swimming pool on a sunny day. A gravel path leads toward a patio furnished with lounge chairs, surrounded by lush landscaping including ornamental grasses, lavender, and a well-manicured lawn.
A modern balcony with a wooden ceiling and floor overlooks a rectangular swimming pool set in a large, grassy backyard. Beyond the pool, a dense line of lush green trees stretches across the horizon under a clear blue sky.
A modern, single-story cabin with a dark metal gable roof sits on a grassy lawn. Through the glass-walled center, a person stands at an easel, painting with a view of the water behind them. Nearby, a two-story gray-paneled building stands surrounded by large, leafy trees.
A large, multi-pane rectangular window is set into a modern building with light gray paneling and wood-grain siding. Through the glass, a tranquil lake and sky are reflected, partially obscuring the interior furniture. Low, layered green shrubs and ornamental grasses line the base.
A modern, two-story house with gray wood siding sits behind a lush green lawn dotted with slender birch trees. At dusk, golden light reflects from the large windows, while a gravel path curves through the foreground under a clear sky.
A modern two-story home with dark wood siding stands against a sunset sky. The house features floor-to-ceiling glass walls, a spacious patio with outdoor furniture, and warm lighting illuminating the interior and outdoor living spaces.
A modern two-story home at dusk features a lit outdoor fire pit on a stone patio. Large glass windows reveal a warm, illuminated interior with contemporary art, while the wooden exterior ceiling glows under soft recessed lighting.
A modern two-story house with horizontal wood siding is illuminated at twilight, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and a rectangular swimming pool in the foreground. Several lounge chairs are lined up on the pool deck, and bright interior lights reveal an open-plan home.

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