Expressing the idea of shelter and connection to the land, this 5,500 square foot home sits firmly anchored to its hillside site overlooking farmlands with distant views directed to a peak of the Smoky Mountains.  By extending fieldstone retaining walls beyond the extents of the house, the house seems to embrace the gently sloping site. Rising from a stone base, the building is clad in cedar shakes that are left to weather naturally. The natural materials serve to link the structure with its wooded setting.  A long, low sloped roof reinforces the notion of sheltering form.

The plan is organized around the idea of transition from a suburban context to the privacy of a rural landscape.  Orientation of the building was determined by aligning the entry path with a point on a mountain ridge in the distance.  A large masonry chimney that symbolizes the heart of the home, is centered in the plan with fireplaces opening to major living spaces.  Large window walls connect the living room and kitchen to the site and small, punched openings provide framed views of the mountains to the west and a copse of cherry trees to the east - maintaining a feeling of connection to the landscape. The five levels of the house provide many opportunities for places of prospect and refuge.