Jatoba and Beech from Floor to Door
Situated on a one-acre wooded lot adjacent to park land just outside Washington, D.C. is the Harkavy House, a 2,000 square foot single-family home in Potomac, Maryland. The home is oriented away from the road to provide views deep into the adjacent woods. Long overhangs provide shade and shelter, while extending the visual connection to the outdoor views and offering maximum sun exposure during the winter months.
The house consists of three separate living spaces. The two-story wood section with a butterfly shaped roof anchors the house and is sloped to funnel rainwater into a collection system. This area of the house, containing an open living, dining and kitchen space, has amazing views of the natural surroundings and is filled with light.
"In many cases, one material will take precedence as the material that defines the palette," says architect Robert Gurney, FAIA, who designed the home. "We started looking at beech (Fagus sylvatica) for the cabinetry and we found that jatoba/Brazilian cherry (Hymenaea courbaril) complemented that palette beautifully."
The jatoba was procured in five-inch boards. "I prefer wider boards," says Gurney. "This is a material I've used on a lot of projects for flooring material. It's dense, durable and beautiful. It is relatively easy to work with and rather easy to procure."
Gurney estimates that he has used jatoba in more than a dozen projects, although Harkavy House was the first time he combined it with beech. "I've used it with mahogany and maple. It's a material that works well with a lot of other different woods and materials. It's something I've embraced and used often."
In the Harkavy House project with its crisp, minimal interior detailing, the beech and jatoba combine in a palette that includes black window frames and black ground-faced block, limestone, teak, stainless steel, natural aluminum, as well as opaque and translucent glass.
"With simple forms rendered in sensory materials, the house becomes a part of the larger landscape, providing a place to witness trees changing colors, fog rolling in from the not too distant Potomac River and deer herds wandering to the edge of the woods," notes Gurney.
Frequently asked questions
What wood species were used in the Harkavy House interior?+
The Harkavy House interior features jatoba (Brazilian cherry, Hymenaea courbaril) for flooring and beech (Fagus sylvatica) for cabinetry. These woods are complemented by black window frames, black ground-faced block, limestone, teak, stainless steel, natural aluminum, and opaque and translucent glass.
Why did architect Robert Gurney choose jatoba for the flooring?+
Gurney selected jatoba because it is dense, durable and beautiful, relatively easy to work with, and easy to procure. He has used it in more than a dozen projects and finds it pairs well with many other woods and materials.
What width of jatoba boards were used in the Harkavy House?+
The jatoba was procured in five-inch boards, though architect Robert Gurney noted he generally prefers wider boards.
How does the Harkavy House's butterfly roof function beyond aesthetics?+
The two-story wood section of the home features a butterfly-shaped roof that is sloped to funnel rainwater into a collection system. This section anchors the house and contains the open living, dining and kitchen space.
What other wood species has Robert Gurney paired with jatoba on past projects?+
Gurney has combined jatoba with mahogany and maple on previous projects. The Harkavy House was the first time he paired jatoba with beech.
Where is the Harkavy House located and how is it oriented?+
The Harkavy House is a 2,000-square-foot single-family home on a one-acre wooded lot in Potomac, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., adjacent to park land. It is oriented away from the road to provide views deep into the adjacent woods, with long overhangs for shade and winter sun exposure.