This home of approximately 3500 square feet is situated on an extremely steep, rocky, and demanding site in North Asheville, North Carolina. We worked carefully with the owners and the builder to take advantage of the extraordinary views while protecting the local ecosystem, especially a mature stand of white oak trees that were protected during the construction and are, in fact, a large part of the home's passive cooling strategy. The trees are located to the west of the house and as such screen the house from the hot setting western summer sun. During the cold winters, the deciduous trees allow in a huge amount of passive solar heating.

The owners, committed environmentalists and accomplished collectors, requested a gracious home designed around their beautiful rugs, furniture, and art works. These precious objects, accumulated over a lifetime of world travel, lend an air of permanence and poise otherwise not available to a new home.