Title: The House for Listening
Location of Proejct: Trenton, NC
Project Completion Date: 5/02/22
Firm Name:

Short Description: House for Listening celebrates a landscape of opposition. A tamed field of orthogonal plantings meets a wooded periphery, carved by water and time. Perched on the topographical barrier that divides these two worlds, spaces arrange themselves in respect to sound and silence. Spaces for gathering are placed in the quiet soundscape of the field encouraging conversation, music, and dance. Intimate spaces cantilever into the dense treeline for moments of reflection and rest. At the dwelling’s center is a courtyard capturing the essence of opposition. Acting as a place and threshold, this indoor outdoor space is where sound and silence meet.

Architect's Statement: The clients for this home were unique, poetic, and particular. Known as contemplative hobbyists, they had very specific requirements for the spaces they wanted in their home. As avid music listeners and lovers, this couple asked for a music room as the main living space. This room can be opened to the exterior courtyard, the heart of this house. The main circulation within the home occurs around the courtyard, with spaces surrounding it. As you navigate around the courtyard, you are offered alternating views, switching from the pocket gardens to the courtyard. Following the
music room is kitchen and dining, which can also be opened to air. Moving gradually out of the “sound” zone, the office and guest bedroom follow. The main bedroom is completely cantilevering into the treeline, with a meditation room on the opposite corner. The quietest spaces are sheltered and accompanied by the sound of wind and trees. Finally, there is a maker space for train modeling, with easy access to the courtyard and front entrance. Tall grass and a tree grow in the courtyard to create a garden. Stepping stones allow users to walk through and under the home to explore these two worlds. This house is completely self sustainable, with a solar power field, septic tank and drainage field, geothermal system, and well.

The structural 20 x 24 foot grid influences the placement of spaces. A singular 8 foot row is introduced acting as the entry sequence. This house is read as volumes within an exposed structure. For this to work, each column is accompanied by a steel channel. When there is a column inside of a wall, the dark steel channel sits flush to the lighter wood siding for a readable structure. Steel channels are still present when the column is exposed, used as sculptural pieces of structure around the house.

Wider steel channels line the roof and floor planes, and hold the slatted roofs over the pocket gardens. High windows are placed around the house and angle in for more light to enter the home. These volumes sit on the roof. Both the skylight windows and window mullions are the same color as the steel structure to continue the theme of
contrasting elements.