Scenic Lake Barcroft, a manmade, two-and-a-half-square-mile body of water in Falls Church, anchors a community of about 1,000 homes. Unspoken-for properties on its coveted waterfront are few and far between—so when a couple with a yen for lakefront living came across a vacant, one-and-a-half-acre lot for sale along the shore, they grabbed it.

In fact, their vision extended beyond lifestyle and deep into architecture-and-design territory. “We wanted to build an ultra-contemporary house, and we wanted a local architect we could spend time with, to make sure they understood us,” recounts one of the owners, a management consultant whose husband currently stays home with their two young kids. “We also wanted someone with distinction and their own style,” he continues, “to ensure what we’d be getting in terms of quality and design sense.”

Given the requirements, acclaimed modernist Robert Gurney turned out to be the perfect choice. He signed on for the job, which took about five years from conception to its completion in November 2020. He assembled a team that included colleague Nicole de Jong as project architect; Potomac Valley Builders; Vincent Sagart of Poliform | sagartstudio as kitchen designer; interior designer Therese Baron Gurney; and landscape architect Kevin Campion.

The lot is enviably positioned with lake views in two directions. Waterfront-lot regulations “allowed us to build within 50 feet of the water,” Gurney notes, “so I designed the house to literally wrap around the site following the 50-foot setback lines.”

At 7,000 square feet, the completed six-bedroom, six-bath dwelling is angled to capitalize on both vistas. It harmonizes expanses of steel, glass and wood in two three-story volumes that tuck into the steeply sloped site, concealing its mass. “While the slope was a challenge, it makes for a more interesting building,” Gurney comments. “But it meant you couldn’t enter on the living level, you’d have to walk down to it.”

Nearly every room faces the water and the lake is visible immediately from the entry. The front door opens into a second-floor foyer with a staircase to the third floor and a separate, floating stair of painted steel and white oak down to the main level. “We made sure the different levels communicate,” Gurney says. “There are sightlines pulled from different orientations.”

An open plan was a must. “We had an idea of how things should flow,” says the owner. “We wanted the living room connected to the dining room but distinguished from it. The central stair, which bisects the spaces, gives just enough separation.”

Along the back wall of the living area, a sleek kitchen complements the space, with a fully loaded prep kitchen around the corner. “The goal was to integrate the kitchen with the architecture,” explains designer Vincent Sagart. “It helps create the space—but it’s all about the views.”

The second floor does double duty as front entry—complete with mudroom and two-car garage (an engineering feat in its location over the kitchen)—and guest quarters. There are two spare bedrooms as well as an apartment with a full kitchen, also designed by Poliform | sagartstudio. The third level is for family: The kids’ bedrooms line a short hall, with the primary suite above the guest apartment and a family lounge that the owners call “the loft.” An ipe deck is accessed from the children’s rooms, hallway and loft, creating indoor-outdoor flow.

On the main level, the living area opens out to an expansive ipe deck with a wide stair bordered by Corten steel leading down to the backyard. Landscape architect Kevin Campion devised access from there to the water while thoughtfully balancing other objectives. “It was a sensitive slope with drainage issues, dead trees and restrictions that required preserving and restoring woodland,” he relates. “We took down the dead trees and planted dozens of natives. And we moved the water around the house, managing the drainage so it doesn’t dump into the lake.” Pervious lawn stairs create a picturesque path to 250 feet of lakefront, where the owners dock a pontoon boat for tooling around on the water. A layered plant palette along the slope provides year-round color and interest and prevents erosion.

With the living spaces all facing the water, Gurney tucked the prep kitchen, storage, and operating systems such as HVAC, geothermal and Lutron and A/V on the street side of the house. Spray-foam insulation, low-E glass and passive glazing contribute to energy efficiency. According to the homeowners, solar panels are imminent.

When it came to the interiors, the clients also knew exactly what they wanted. They purchased major furniture pieces themselves, then relied on interior designer Therese Baron Gurney, Robert’s wife and a frequent collaborator, “to pull it all together and give it that extra something,” explains the owner. Against a backdrop of glass, polished concrete floors and wall panels of mahogany and shou sugi ban, low-slung, modern furnishings in quiet, neutral colors keep the views center stage. Says the owner, “I feel like I’m at a resort when I get home at night. Washington is just 20 minutes away—and I get to come home to this.”

Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Nicole de Jong, AIA, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Vincent Sagart, Poliform | sagartstudio, Washington, DC. Builder: Daryl Landis, Potomac Valley Builders, Bethesda, Maryland. Landscape Architect: Kevin Campion, ASLA, principal; Lindsey Tabor, PLA, associate, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Installation: Evergro Landscaping, Glenn Dale, Maryland.

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Home Automation: gramophone.com. Windows: westernwindowsystems.com. Lighting: lutron.com. Outdoor Audio: coastalsource.com. Outdoor Lighting & Irrigation: nature-unlimited.com.

LIVING ROOM
Sofa: Rodolfo Dordoni through minotti.com. Chairs: patriciaurquiola.com through bebitalia.com. Coffee Table: Carlos Baladia through ethnicraft.com. Table: roomandboard.com. Rug: cavancarpets.com.

DINING ROOM
Dining Table: emmanuel-gallina.com through poliform.it. Chairs: Jean-Marie Massaud through poliform.it. Trolley: Hella Jongerius through artek.fi. Chandelier: Gabriel-scott.com.

KITCHEN
Faucets: dornbracht.com; kwc.ch/us; mountainplumbing.com. Lighting: Andreas Tosetto for lodes.com. Cooktop, Ovens, Coffee Machine & Warming Drawers: mieleusa.com. Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com.

LOUNGE & MEDIA ROOM
Sofas: Philippe Bouix for roche-bobois.com. Armchair: Cedric Ragot for roche-bobois.com. Coffee Table, Stools & Side Table: bludot.com. Cushion: roneljordaan.com. Rug: cavancarpets.com.

PRIMARY BEDROOM
Bed: Rodolfo Dordoni for poliform.it. Night Table: Paolo Piva through poliform.it. Armchair & Side Table: Jean-Marie Massaud through poliform.it. Rug: bic-carpets.be. Floor Lamp: Lievore Altherr Molina for vibia.com. Closet: poliform.it.

LOWER DECK
Lounge Chairs: Rodolfo Dordoni for rodaonline.com. Side Table: gordon-guillaumier.com through rodaonline.com. Side Table: tihanydesign.com through rodaonline.com. Pouf, Sun Lounger & Side Table: Rodolfo Dordoni for rodaonline.com. Parasol: Barlow Tyrie through teak.com.

UPPER DECK
Coffee Table: Gordon-guillaumier.com through rodaonline.com. Chairs & Sun Lounger: newhemisphere.com.

BALCONIES
Armchairs: Patricia Urquiola for andreuworld.com. Tables: Llevore Altherr Molina for andreuworld.com.

LAWN
Chairs: cane-line.com.

PRIMARY BATHROOM
Faucets: Franco Sargiani for fantini.it. Bathtub: Lievore through noorth.it. Cabinets: michelemarcon.it through noorth.it. Toilets: Sfrea through catalano.it. Mirrors: noorth.it. Handles & Hinges: fsbna.com. Lighting: Philippe Starck for usa.flos.com.