Secret Hollow Residence

secret hollow

RESIDENCE

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach...

-Henry David Thoreau

*Owner provided photographs.

The clients came to LS3P looking for, in their words, “a place to settle for the next season of life: autumn and maybe into winter.� The foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains proved a perfect setting to lay down new roots. Peter, an accomplished Maritime photographer, wished for a simple home modeled after the modest Maritime buildings that he spent a career capturing. As they pulled up stakes from homes in Florida and Nova Scotia, the owners also wanted a living space which would complement their active lifestyle and provide a setting in commune with the beauty of the natural surroundings.

1. ENTRY 2. GARAGE 3. HALL 4 OUTDOOR COURTYARD 5. GUEST SUITE 6. MASTER SUITE 7. LAUNDRY/PANTRY 8. KITCHEN 9.GREAT ROOM 10. SCREEN PORCH 11.GRILL PORCH

LOWER FLOOR PLAN

MAIN FLOOR PLAN

1. MEDIA ROOM 2. BUNKS 3. BATH 4 WORK STUDIO 5. MECHANICAL 6. CRAWLSPACE 7. GARDEN 8. COVERED TERRACE

The rolling valley site came with topographic challenges, but offered stunning views and a place to create a home perched high on the hollow wall. A series of retaining walls were inserted to sculpt the terrain and provide a terraced footprint for the residence. A linear footprint aligned around the walls maximized the views to the valley below and foothills beyond.

The stone walls further define and anchor the indoor and outdoor living spaces, giving privacy from the street side. The wall forms part of the sheltered entry sequence into the house, slides thorough the interior, and continues through the house to delineate outdoor living at the view side of the home. The rustic stone wall complements the clean lines and contemporary spaces through which it passes, lending a clarity to the design while underscoring a sense of place.

In addition to blending with the natural surroundings, the exterior materials offer a tough and durable shell. The natural stone and metal roofing will be maintenance-free for the lifetime of the home, while the Western red cedar siding is highly resistant to insects and moisture. The juxtaposition of warm wood and Swannanoa quarried stone lends a woodsy cabin-like aesthetic which is modernized by the elegant lines of the design. Details such as the deep eaves, elongated chimney, strategic wood screening walls, and slim vertical windows all lend elegance to the cabin form.

A series of porches, pavilions, window walls, and courtyards connect a largely open interior to a wooded terrain, blurring the boundaries between the inside and outside. A timber trussed, vaulted living space provides a sense of spaciousness within a compact building footprint.

Kitchen, Dining and Living spaces combine to form a true “Great Room.�

Throughout the interior, a restrained palette of whites, light wood, and natural textures combine to form a light filled and serene setting for daily activities.

In nearly every space, the warm wood abuts cool stone; other elements such as rich paneling and subtle maritime detailing reflect the owner’s love of the water and preference for simplicity.

In using simple materials, forms, and organization as a touchstone, the design team created an environment of quiet solitude, where the essential facts of life are amplified and the noise of modern life subsides.

To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.

-Henry David Thoreau

N

D

S H

O

H CAR O NA

AIA

UT

LI

O

OR AWA

R

.COM