House in the Fields

This large house uses the metaphor of a nautilus shell to organize walls unwrapping from the central fireplace. With views to the southeast across an eastern North Carolina field, the entry drive is discretely brought around a screen of trees to the rear to maintain the vistas at the front of the house. From there, the entry walk encircles a dark, cooling, natural pool to a modern interpretation of the southern porch and the full panorama of the fields beyond.

Overhangs shield the sun on summer days but let the rays warm the home in the winter. A simple shift in just a few palette elements dramatically confirms the modern philosophy that beauty is inherent to natural materials.