Piedmont Retreat

Set in a wooded cul-de-sac neighborhood on the edge of Durham, the community is characterized by a strong topography. Bounded by a quiet and introverted exterior, a thick Geode crust, the corten steel forms a protective barrier to the street. This skin will eventually find its final weathering point and blend seamlessly into the landscape. In contrast, the living spaces open to an array of shifting perspectival views within and throughout the house. The daily process of circulating through the spaces is grounded by seeing the building from within the building and discovering a new vantage point of the site.

In contrast to the interiority of the neighboring houses, the owners were inspired to live in a house that was modest in public presence but directly connected to the lush green North Carolina landscape of their site. They wanted a private, low maintenance house, that was livable and would allow them to blur the boundaries between their indoor and outdoor spaces.

architect: katherine hogan architects
construction: katherine hogan architects
location: Durham, North Carolina
photography: Tzu Chen Photography, katherine hogan architects