SITE
A 60-acre site of rolling pastures, wooded forests, and southerly views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is typical of the farmland of Clarke County, Virginia. A site was chosen at the confluence of two tree lines. These aged windbreaks created three different natural landscapes: a small grassy meadow with limestone rock formations to the northeast, big open fields with the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the south, and a level cow pasture with views of the local town water tower and distant mountains. The driveway winds its way through several open fields bordered by tree lines. Before entering the final field, one sees the house with its roof following the slope of the hillside. The final approach has the 2-story mass in the tree line, with a view through a courtyard to views beyond.

PROGRAM
The clients had an interest in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Japanese design. The wife grew up in Hong Kong, and traveled throughout Asia. She had also lived in a house designed by Alden Dow. The couple felt strongly about having an energy efficient house which used green and regional materials. The 4,000 square foot, 3-bedroom house was to fit in with the landscape.

DESIGN
The design evolved from a series of plan sketches and massing models. A passive solar scheme stretched the major daily living spaces along the east-west axis for maximum heat gain and big mountain views. The private and formal spaces turn along the other tree line, creating a modified cruciform.

The massing took the shape of the hillside, using shed roofs reminiscent of local farm buildings. The main roof slopes at a minimum from the open landscape up to the trees, making a transition from one level to the two-level volume. Roof slopes, overhangs, and shading trellises were designed for intimate scale and passive solar efficiency.

The entry sequence uses a series of structural layers and deflected vistas, lending a view through to a rock garden in the northeast meadow. The circulation, structure, and space relations reinforce feelings of discovery.

A central fireplace and stair tower is the central organizer and soul of the house. The floating stairs allow a transparency for light and views. The tower mass and concrete hall floor form a thermal heat sink in winter months.

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY
The structural vocabulary blends the cedar timber and glass system on the south with the stress skin walls and subtractive openings where privacy and protection from the elements are an issue. Gluelam beams and stress skin roof panels create long spans and cantilevers, without using large timbers. The poured concrete and recycled limestone walls root the house to the landscape as well as bring the outside in. The dark fireslate counter tops form an additional heat sink in the Kitchen volume. Bamboo was used as a ‘green architecture’ flooring material in the Living Room. Local labor on stucco, stone, and copper roofing was a sustainable design tactic commonly seen in the region.

structural engineer: Tim Painter,
general contractor: Jon Duvall