Project Description: The Hillside House is located on a rolling piedmont site overlooking a long-established golf course and within the stringently controlled riparian buffer of the Chattahoochee River. The aesthetics of the house follow a straightforward refined minimalism with all features fulfilling either functional requirements or goals for energy conservation. A compact two-story footprint allows the six-bedroom house to stay within jurisdictional restrictions to land disturbance. The house and grounds are designed to preserve and wrap around a large silver maple planted in the 1960’s by one of the owner’s mother. Designed for a growing family with strong extended international family ties the house is open and social. Environmental concerns were paramount for the family and the house fits tightly into its microclimate, sitting lightly on the land, saving the majority of existing trees and minimizing grading.
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Hillside nestles into the site's natural grade stepping down from the living areas to sequential levels of deck, patio, lap pool and site Photographer: Fredrik Brauer
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In considerable contrast to predominately land-scraping neo-traditional neighboring residences, Hillside's street facade presents a minimalist palette of stone, wood and glass which, while welcoming and accessible, reinforces the essential design precept of blending construction into the contours of the site, carefully wrapping the house and guest parking around the stunning silver maple planted over 30 years ago by the owner's mother.
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The southern facade faces an extensive lawn sloping to the golf course and views of wooded piedmont hills beyond. Hillside nestles into the natural contours of the site stepping down from the living areas with "trays" comprised of the lounging deck, social patio, lap pool then lawn. Extensive eaves provide passive solar shading of living area and bedroom south-facing, view-oriented glazing. Rain chains direct roof runoff to stone filled collectors and an underground site drainage system. No gutters on this house!
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A fireplace open on three sides separates the living room from the dining room. The grill below the cantilevered fireplace deck provides exterior combustions air to the fireplace. On a demand basis a sensor located in the fireplace operates a damper within combustion air duct.
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The stair adjacent to the Foyer serves the lower level of the house and is built, primarily with salvaged old-growth long-leaf heart pine treads and steel stringers. LED strips beneath the treads light the space. Natural light filters in from clerestories above and a strip window to the side.
