Posten Residence

Asheville, NC, United States

Add To Collection

Other Projects by McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture

Add To Collection

Posten Residence

Asheville, NC, United States

Firm

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture

Type

Residential › Private House

YEAR

2013

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

BUDGET

$100K - 500K

Photos

Kevin Meechan / Meechan Architectural Photography (10)

The home is situated along the top of a gently sloping ridge in the property, which minimized the impact to the site but maximized views and solar orientation.

The home’s simple L-shape provides a natural division of exterior public and private space, which is simply landscaped to complement the austerity of the architecture. Functionally, this L-shaped plan provides a linear organization of approximately 2,000-square-feet of living and sleeping spaces, which are linked by an entry foyer to a two-car garage.

The goal internally was to provide a sense of openness between rooms and accentuate the perception of the interior volume. The use of butt joint glazing atop walls provides sound control and privacy yet also allows light to stream through the entire interior rather than merely in each individual room. Simple use of built-in wardrobes, cabinetry, pocket doors, and other space-saving features provided great efficiency and accentuated the internal modern character.

Formally, the shed provided a means to capture sunlight along the high southern wall, creating a more dramatic presence to the public side, with a more intimate scale for the rear courtyard. Protected by an eight-foot-deep overhang, the southern wall remains fully shaded during the summer yet allows sunlight into the entire depth of rooms in winter to heat the interior polished concrete slab. This naturally seasonal lighting combined with other sustainable features such as a geothermal heat pump, hydronic in-floor heating, highly insulated exterior walls and roof, Solarban glazing, and fluorescent lighting have resulted in minimal energy usage.

To accomplish the desired modern theme, the use of materials is restrained, only accentuated where needed to create emphasis. These materials include stucco, fiber cement panels, aluminum storefront and entry doors, metal roofing, and polished stained concrete block.