Courtyard House
The house sits at the center of a sloped, wooded property, buffered from the adjacent suburban road by tall pines. A winding driveway ascends to reach a strikingly modern residence, tucked into its natural setting. A plinth of board-form concrete supports the main floor, its surface echoing the natural textures of the surrounding woodlands. Mindful of the road below, the north face embraces privacy and opacity, interrupted by a few thoughtfully placed windows. Carefully detailed mahogany screens and vertical battens add further texture to the exterior, while a dramatic canopy provides cover and directs the eye to the main entry, placed at the hinge-point of the home’s two wings.
An expression of Flavin’s Natural Modern approach, the house’s upper level nestles into the slope, responding to the site’s topography. The lower level accommodates guest and media spaces, a fitness room and garage parking. The house is entered at the lower level, where sunlight filters from above, drawing one up the stairs to the primary floor and courtyard. Upstairs, the walk-out main floor wraps around a “curated courtyard,” a term coined by the client early in the project. Enhanced with lush plantings, this intimate space becomes the focal point of the house. Walls of glass provide views from the main living spaces and primary bedroom, welcoming nature and blurring the boundary between inside and out.
An expression of Flavin’s Natural Modern approach, the house’s upper level nestles into the slope, responding to the site’s topography. The lower level accommodates guest and media spaces, a fitness room and garage parking. The house is entered at the lower level, where sunlight filters from above, drawing one up the stairs to the primary floor and courtyard. Upstairs, the walk-out main floor wraps around a “curated courtyard,” a term coined by the client early in the project. Enhanced with lush plantings, this intimate space becomes the focal point of the house. Walls of glass provide views from the main living spaces and primary bedroom, welcoming nature and blurring the boundary between inside and out.
Project Year: 2023
Country: United States
Zip Code: 02030