Our clients for this home sought to build in Hope Valley, an historic Durham golf community known for its 1930s-era country-style residences with steep gables and painted masonry. The family loved the neighborhood, and yet they also envisioned a more modern design for their new home – a free-flowing space that would allow them to entertain frequently and host regular family gatherings.
In response we designed a central living space that is both expansive and transparent. Its 15 foot high ceilings and large panes of glass provide unobstructed views of the home’s beautifully landscaped site and the forest beyond. Ideal for both intimate and large-scale gatherings, this central living space is gently sheltered from the road by a screen wall beyond the entrance that provides privacy without diminishing the connection to the outdoors. The kitchen, study, master and guest bedrooms are arranged within the two solid architectural volumes that flank the central space.
In response to the surrounding neighborhood, we adopted the white painted masonry of Hope Valley’s traditional residences and accentuated it with zinc cladding. The broadly projecting roof overhangs offer thermal protection and also provide pleasantly sheltered outdoor spaces for three-season entertaining.
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