Design philosophy:

Critical to the design thinking of creating a house in the woods' on two tract lots next to a drainage way, was maintaining both a preservationist's approach and a restoration of the woods. Understand many homes in this community are simply torn down for their lot value and simply replaced with' builder big boxes' which are very expensive in nature, but lack neighborhood scale, sensitivity or any kind of design quality... its lot line to lot line and height limits defined only by building codes. The owner, both a naturalist and a buyer at very eclectic items, loved the woods and wanted the woods to surround the house. With this as the central concept, the architect and the landscape architect worked together to achieve a very recessive' house which emphasized the deep shadows of the woods and used natural materials both very rich in color and dark-pennsylvania greenstone walls laid in a flagstone pattern or !edge stacked, a copper roof, a turkey track limestone fireplace, cypress wood and transparent glass. letting the woods read through the house. The house was also notched in a way to allow small courtyards to be integrated with individual rooms. Frankly, it is a very large house of approximately 6,000 s f. but with the layout and linear quality, the recessive palette of materials, and especially the transparency of the glass the house sits quietly in the landscape

The Landscape Architect's Hole:

The landscape architect worked with the architect from the initial design concepts defined by the architect. The landscape architect developed the site plan, defined the hardscape, landscape and work with an arsonist in preserving some very significant existing cedars approximately 65-70 years old. Greece were a critical issue relative to setting the finish floor elevation and creating a walking path around the perimeter of the house. Grades changed as much as twelve feet on the property Also critical to the design was minimizing a hardcape solution ' and subtly transiting the natural grades while preserving existing vegetation. The landscape architect was integrated with the architect, the owner and the contractor throughout the design and construction process.

The Projects program, the resolution of details and the budget:

The overall program, the details and the project budget were interdependent in the design effort. The program was simple... develop in a very naturalistic setting one primary outdoor entertaining space off the main living area, a parking court on the side yard which could be used for a large and informal dining area and very small and intimate courtyard spaces. Details and materials were very simple. All hardscape elements were purposive of the materials on the house. The back terrace was two floating slabs of stained concrete on piers, stepping down with grade. This was the same finish and detail as the interior floors Stan, walls were the same material as the flagstone laid walls of the house. Steps were of leuders limestone differentiating horizontal planes from vertical steps. The walking path was also pennsylvania dissociate delivered from the quarry in approximately 3x3' slabs. Steps, stone paths and walls were designed as landscape elements which could move with expansive soils  without piers or significant footings This saved significant money and allowed the emphasis to be on the landscape. Relative to the landscape, plant materials were chosen based on spatial definition, natural quality and water requirements, layering and textures all with the emphasis of responding to the concept of the tree house in the scones