House in the Woods
Set on seven wooded acres, the progressive home was designed for a young family in rural Tennessee. The home’s design draws from its context by utilizing raw, natural materials and simple forms. As a result, the home’s budget was kept at $100 per square feet.
The home is designed in three simple parts: 1) main house, 2) rear family room/ screen porch and 3) garage. The main house mirrors the mass and scale of a log home on the adjoining property, and its material selection speaks to rural outbuildings in the region, while incorporating expansive windows to maximize views and light. To define the L-shaped plan, the design incorporates a separate wing containing an expansive double-height screened porch. This rear porch allows for plenty of daytime sunlight, as well as sweeping views of the surrounding forest. This wing is similar to a detached “lean-to” as it relates to the main house. The garage to the north is a simple and passive shed structure. Adjacent to the porch wing, it is deliberately detached to accommodate the owner’s hobby of rebuilding and restoring cars. This detachment prevents troublesome noise reaching the main house.
The home’s design is significant in that it offers a simple solution to rural housing while providing an alternate to an “off the shelf” ranch style home commonly found in the area.
