450 College Avenue - McConnell House

450 College Avenue / James McConnell House / Architect: Charles Haertling / Style: Frank Lloyd Wright Expressionist / built 1967

This house is not very visible from the public right of way but it is included on the tour because it is a spectacular design. It’s the last house built in the Keocoughtan Hills subdivision because the property is so steep. Charles Haertling sited this house to daringly overhang the steep hillside. The plan of the house is roughly a square with one corner, the living room, cantilevering over the hill. It is known as the “star” house because it is angular in plan and there is a star-shaped skylight at the center of the building. The house design takes advantage of the downward sloping site to have a lower floor. The white painted lower-level contrasts in tone with the darkly stained wood planks and shakes cladding upper floor level.