Situated in an abandoned limestone quarry, the Hawk’s Nest is the home and studio of a Parisian sculptor. The building overlooks the beautiful Potomac River, but the unusual site initially presented a major challenge to Greg Wiedemann, AIA, and Barbara Sweeney, AIA of Wiedemann Architects. The quarry location meant that the surface was littered with debris, and with active springs, fractures and subterranean caves to contend with, there were concerns that this site might prove too tricky to build on.
But by supporting the building on pilings of various depths and allowing the concrete walls between the pilings to sit on bedrock, the site was minimally disturbed by the building, keeping everything stable and secure.
The structure itself sits on concrete pedestals which flank an impressive courtyard, which is fully sheltered. The fairly linear layout of the interior allows the floor-to-ceiling windows to take centre stage in every single room, and the lines between inside and outside are blurred throughout the house. The addition of balconies and bridges help to keep the connection to the outside world.
Inside, the floors are made from dark concrete with radiant floor heat, and the narrow design of the building provides much-needed natural ventilation around the space. The bright primary colours are in stark contrast to the dark concrete, natural wood and steel that has gone into the building, but it never overpowers or makes the house feel any less linked with its surroundings.
