When MODE4 Architecture owner Christopher Tucker took on a complete reimagining of a midcentury-modern developer-built Alexandria home, he aimed for a design that would “offer a sense of order and cohesion.” He sought to transform it “from a simple rectangular box into a dynamic spatial experience,” he says — one that would better support both daily living and social gathering.
Much of the original structure was replaced, but Tucker retained the existing footprint with a taller roof and massing new composition. The team added vertical towers inspired by “the visual movement of musical notes dancing across a staff,” Tucker says, a request by his clients who wanted to reference their teenage daughter’s connection to music.
The first floor was reworked to include a formal foyer, office, dining room, pantry with wet bar, powder room, mudroom, family room, and a three-car garage with integrated storage. A central stair anchors the plan, linking a double-height foyer to the rear terrace.
A new second floor houses a primary suite with a private staircase, along with a bridge, secondary family room, guest suite, and laundry space.
“The entry now leads into a cohesive spatial experience anchored by the double-height family room, with clear sightlines, balanced proportions, and a natural rhythm of movement throughout,” Tucker says.
Feature image by Kate Wichlinski
This story originally ran in our June issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
