Mountain Modernism in Virginia
Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the architects behind one of Manhattan’s most iconic retail landmarks, this sleek residence sits in the full embrace of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, with postcard-perfect views from every room.
When you tell people you live in the mountains, they probably aren’t picturing what you see at 410 Twelve Ridges Way in the evocatively named Virginia community of Vesuvius. Erupting with a strikingly bold spirit, this residence is expertly conceived and exactingly honed — down to the angle from which it overlooks the incomparably scenic Blue Ridge highlands.
That attention to detail comes straight from the eye of the home’s designer. Bohlin Cywinski Jackson is as celebrated a firm as they come, amassing a laundry list of awards since its initial 1965 founding. Their forward-thinking style has proven adaptable to any mold, which is why the company’s iconic portfolio spans residential, commercial, municipal, cultural, and higher-education architecture. You also never quite know where you might find a BCJ work. In Bellevue, Washington, it’s the city’s first new fire station in three decades. In Northern California’s Russian River Valley, it’s a chic winery tasting room. In New York City, it’s the most famous glass cube on either side of the Mississippi. And here, in Central Virginia, it’s this house.
The home is a vision, and it emphasizes vision with several exclamation points. Omnipresent windows and towering glass walls facilitate views from about every room, some 270 degrees worth of picturesque perspectives. On the inverse side, this glass ratio allows a steady stream of flowing natural light.
Beneath nine-foot ceilings and atop white oak floors, a kitchen-dining room-living room triumvirate forms the interior’s heart. Convenience and style define the kitchen, which boasts sleek wood-paneled cabinetry (and lots of it), a center island with seating, a five-burner gas range, and a built-in convection wall oven. Once dinner is served, enjoy it from around the dining table, at the kitchen island, or a combination of both. Unwind on the living room couch beside a gas fireplace with a floor-to-ceiling surround for peak relaxation.
All of that, however, is only a single possibility. This kind of wide-open setup lets one moment logically progress to the next, without interruption, ideal for entertaining guests or daily life’s small moments. Of course, it’s also a front-row seat to observing the beauteous environment — lush trees rising in the foreground, rolling mountains populating the background. Face it through the IMAX screen of picture windows in the living room, or slide open the glass French doors in the dining area for an even more unobstructed look that blurs the lines between inside and out. Step onto the robust, covered deck, which echoes the interior with a dining space and a living room featuring a fireplace of its own. Come sunny day or starry night, this overlook has magnetic appeal.
Breathtaking details continue throughout. Vast glass windows give the primary suite, one of three total sleeping quarters, an extra bit of grandeur. It opens to a personal balcony, a private perch to appreciate the stillness enveloping you — perhaps best enjoyed with morning coffee or tea. Even the main bath astounds, clad as it is in sweeping black tile. Naturally, there’s a window, a vantage point to peer across the sprawling acreage to the cresting ridge line from a deep soaking tub or a blissful shower. Elsewhere, the home’s terrace level boasts a studio apartment with a bedroom and full bath, perfect for all the guests who are certain to stop by for a weekend.
Among this property’s panoramas sits Virginia’s highest altitude vineyard. 12 Ridges Vineyard is essentially down the road from the front door, its elevated terroir producing varietals distinct for the state. Appropriately, you’ll discover a temperature-controlled wine room in the home for storing bottles from near and far, across the region and beyond.
Vesuvius may be serenely unassuming, but it is not even close to off the grid. With the Blue Ridge Parkway a mere grape’s throw away, it’s a cinch to travel to, experience, and maybe find a vintage to sip beside the outdoor fireplace in historically charming cities like Charlottesville, Lexington, and Staunton.
