Sub-Urban House by KUBE Architecture, Reimagining the Suburban Home with Openness and Lightness

Date of Publishing: February 24, 2026

Architecture Design of Sub-urban House

Description About The Project

Sub-Urban House by KUBE Architecture transforms a traditional suburban dwelling into an open, flexible residence that lightly touches the landscape while seamlessly blending industrial and warm Nordic-inspired materials.

The Project “Sub-urban House” Information:

Project Name: Sub-urban House
Location: Maryland, United States
Project Year: 2021
Designed by: KUBE Architecture

A Contemporary Suburban Retreat Designed for Urban Living

The Sub-Urban House by KUBE Architecture redefines the conventional suburban typology through openness, spatial connectivity, and environmental sensitivity. Designed for an urban family relocating to a 5-acre suburban site, the residence challenges the notion of compartmentalized suburban living by introducing adaptable spaces that encourage interaction while maintaining privacy.

Sub-Urban House by KUBE Architecture, Reimagining the Suburban Home with Openness and Lightness

Replacing a 1970s developer house that had previously burned down, the project embraces a strategy of continuity and restraint. By reusing the existing basement and foundation, the design minimizes environmental impact while allowing new portions of the home to cantilever beyond the original footprint. This approach preserves the site’s grading, mature trees, and existing pool, reinforcing a design philosophy rooted in sustainability and landscape respect.

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Light Touch on the Landscape and Spatial Integration

A key ambition of the project was to establish a delicate relationship with the natural surroundings. The house is positioned to maintain the integrity of the site while creating strong visual and physical connections between interior and exterior spaces.

“We wanted the house to sit gently within the landscape, allowing the natural features of the site to remain the primary experience,” the architects explain.

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The refurbishment of the existing pool and the addition of a modest pool house and field house along the tree line further extend the living environment outdoors, reinforcing the sense of a dispersed yet cohesive residential compound.

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Offset Volumes and Transparent Living

The architecture is composed of two offset volumes intersecting within a dramatic double-height space. The front volume presents a more solid and private expression, while the rear volume unfolds as a transparent glass pavilion opening toward the landscape.

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“The overlapping volumes create a dialogue between privacy and openness, reflecting the dual nature of suburban living,” the design team notes.

A steel bridge connects the two volumes, offering elevated views across the main living areas and strengthening spatial continuity. Programmatically, the front volume accommodates a guest suite and office at ground level with children’s rooms above, while the rear volume contains the principal living spaces and master suite, all oriented toward views of the trees.

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Flexible Living and Indoor–Outdoor Expansion

Flexibility is embedded throughout the layout, anticipating evolving family needs. A ground-floor guest suite allows for potential single-level living in the future, ensuring long-term adaptability.

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“Flexibility was essential — the home needed to support both current family life and future lifestyle changes without requiring major alterations,” the architects share.

Large folding glass doors dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, opening the main living areas onto a generous rear deck that effectively doubles the living space during warmer months.

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Material Dialogue: Industrial Meets Nordic Warmth

Materiality plays a crucial role in shaping the home’s identity. Industrial elements referencing the clients’ previous urban residence are balanced with warmer finishes inspired by Icelandic vernacular traditions.

“The palette intentionally juxtaposes industrial precision with tactile warmth, creating a house that feels both contemporary and deeply personal,” the architects state.

This contrast enhances the experiential richness of the interiors while reinforcing the conceptual narrative of transition from city to suburb.

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Sustainable Strategies and Energy Efficiency

Environmental performance is integrated through both passive and active measures. Radiant floor heating provides efficient winter comfort, while a strategically engineered fan reduces reliance on air-conditioning during summer months. LED lighting is used throughout, and several interior fixtures — including living room pendants — were repurposed from the clients’ previous home, embedding sustainability within the project’s narrative of continuity.

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A New Model for Suburban Living

Sub-Urban House demonstrates how suburban architecture can evolve beyond conventional compartmentalization toward openness, adaptability, and environmental sensitivity. Through restrained site intervention, layered spatial experiences, and a carefully balanced material palette, the project establishes a contemporary model for suburban living that remains deeply connected to its landscape.

Photo credit: Anice Hoachlander | Source: KUBE Architecture

For more information about this project; please contact the Architecture firm :
– Add: 818 18th St NW #600, Washington, DC 20006, United States
– Tel: +1 202-986-0573
– Email: anice@studiohdp.com