While Washingtonians haven’t exactly led the pack in their desire for modern residences, Robert Gurney, a D.C.-based architect, says that has dramatically changed since he began his practice in 1990.

Two refined modernist additions, one clad with glass on the southwest corner and the other screened on the northeast, contrast with this weathered 19th century farmhouse located on the edge of a hill with spectacular views. The two square steel pavilions (a total of 550 square feet) form one wing of the house, with a renovated kitchen (250 square feet) in between. The new living room is expansive while the screen porch is intimate. The new living room’s structure incorporates doors and operable windows into the minimal steel frame, eliminating the need for a sub-frame for the glass. The lighting

A couple with Maryland roots decided to move back home from New York with their two children.

Owner: Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund Completion Date: June 2010 Program: A two-story, 72,000-square-foot facility for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients at Bethesda's National Naval Medical Center. The project includes clinics; imaging facilities; spaces for physical therapy, outdoor rehabilitation, and virtual-reality-assisted rehab; offices; an auditorium; a patient lounge and coffee bar; and a skylit multipurpose space that can host activities ranging from group exercises to theater performances. Design concept and solution:The architects needed to accommodate a wide variety of programs under one roof, while creating flexible spaces that can adapt to the center's evolving needs as new findings about TBI emerge.