We received a phone call from this couple soon after they had purchased this 16 acre waterfront property in Rock Hall, MD. They had been searching for a property where they could build a new home, keep their boats, and have a stronger connection with the native tidewater landscape that drew them from Washington D.C.

The property had an existing house which needed to be removed, and the area available to build a new house was limited because of Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Buffer restrictions. But the property had far more opportunities than it had restrictions with native tidal marshland, native Loblolly forest, and several mature native trees that would be carefully protected so they would embrace the new house.

The first 4 months of the project were spent working with the owners to analyze the site, develop a building footprint, establish the orientation of the new house, and create site plan options. After that process, architects (and friends) Jane Treacy and Phil Eagleburger were brought on to complete the design team, working to develop the design for the new house. The remaining 6 months until construction were spent working together with Owners and Architect to develop the design, obtain pricing, and acquire building permits.

South Fork Studio acted as the primary contact with permitting authorities, coordinated the permit submission and prepared all site related permit drawings.

This incredibly collaborative and successful project has been featured in The Washington Post and in Home & Design Magazine.