CASA 34°58’N 83°20’W is the result of a land swap between the Owners of Casa Sky Valley (a 2009 AIA Award winning project) in a valley setting, when the next-door neighbors offered a mountain top lot in an even exchange for not having neighbors. The land exchange allowed for the design of a 2,200 s.ft., 3-bedroom, 3.5 bath mountain top vacation house with stunning views to the west/southwest, of sunset filled afternoons in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia. Secondary benefits like sunlight, cellular reception and protection from nor’easters winds in the winter, made the land “exchange” a no-brainer.
The half acre site is approached from the top, as the road winds along the ridge of Ridgepole Mountain, and the property slopes downward towards Labelle Drive, over 100 ft. below towards the west/southwest at about a 40-degree slope.
Conceptually, the design occupies its place on the land by floating on steel columns (some over 50 ft. tall), away from the road, separated by the natural slope of the land. The front façade is rendered as a more solid treatment for privacy from the street separating/connecting the structure from the road and becoming the formal demarcation between public and private.
Organizationally, arrival and auto storage happens over a metal grill surface, allowing rain and snow to filter under part of the footprint of the occupied site area. Public spaces (right) and private spaces (left) of the house are linked/separated physically upon entering, by an outdoor courtyard/patio with a cantilevered spa/pool, that overlooks an unending vista of the southwestern sunsets of mountains and the town of Rabun Gap on the horizon beyond. This courtyard/patio serves as a place of al fresco celebrations, adding an “outdoor” room to public and private spaces, benefit from the stunning views from the +3,250 ft. elevation setting.
The great room has direct access to the central patio and spa, with picture window walls of the western views. The bedroom suites are repetitive in design, conceived to have views, even from the internal bathrooms, separated from bedrooms by only a glass partition. All suites have wood-burning fireplaces, private sun deck balconies and additional “bunk-bed” alcoves along the hallway for guests with children. The structure, anchored at either end by utilitarian spaces, is built on a frame platform supported by steel columns, where the frame walls are clad in wood siding and Galvalume panels for durability and maintenance free enjoyment. The back facade of CASA 34°58’N 83°20’W is designed for a future array of photovoltaic panels collecting solar power year-round.
CASA 34°58’N 83°20’W quietly occupies the heavily wooded site it sits on, with minimal disruption to its natural setting, while celebrating its unique context, solar orientation and magnificent views.
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