This spectacular homeland landscape dictates all the architectural motivations. A gradual slope from the entry drops into the building stie and the magnificent view to the South, East and West. The house is centered on this view and a great oak tree. The building is both axial and symmetrical to this position. It sits on the most level area of site, which flattens out to take the breadth of the house. The only view of the house itself from the road and/or neighboring properties will be from above, looking across the sloping landscape and onto the roof of the structure. Therefore, it has been kept low, merging with the land with low, gently sloped roofs and surrounding walls, all which curve to these natural forms.

The geometry of the plan is orthogonal, but it meets the curvilinear landscape with rounded paths at the outer edge and oval wall on its inner center. The materials reflect this attitude towards the landscape. Not wanting to compete with the grasses and trees, the exterior walls are all to be limestone plaster – the color of stone. The interior floors, auto court and exterior and paved with Burgundy limestone – earthy and slightly darker, recalling the brush wood of the landscape. The roofs are lead colored – not to contract to the hills and sky – soft and autochthonous. The doors and windows are oil-rubbed bronze – a patina of real antique weather metal. Some old ashlar cut stones are to be used at the edges of the walls and as an entry surround. The whole suggests an old battered, unpretentious fort-pavilion, slightly sunken into the ground.

Enclosed at the entry, all windows and skylights are hidden by parapets from any roadside or neighbor visibility. The home is open on the private side towards the great view and away from any roadside visibility. The sitting room terrace has an outdoor fireplace – a regional tradition, and covered porches lead from bedrooms to the outside via French doors. The shapes and forms of the building mass are traditional, as are the French doors and windows. The simplicity of the overall plan is non-competing with the landscape – avoiding complicated geometries, facets and tricky elevations. The solidity of this house, its materials and forms are the architecture, rather than borrowed shapes and historical references.

The slightly battered walls will be covered with aspaliered vegetation to lessen the building impact on the woods. The overall landscaping scheme conforms with the design guidelines concepts – low, natural stone walls as edges of the terraces and sinuous forms the overall transition from building to nature.

A guest house is situated on the Northeast corner of the homeland, ticked into the existing trees. A 2-car parking area will be landscaped by new trees to partially hide the guest house entry at the front of the building. A small floating deck at the Northeast façade looks out into the forest. This is not visible from any other parcel.

The main house sits on the flattest ledge of the homeland site. It is axially centered on an enormous Oak tree. The driveway leads to the center of an auto court, slightly cut into the landscape, leading down to the house 22 ft. below. This is a gradual 250 ft. ramp which opens into a 100 ft. oval space centered around a gentle landscape mound. This opens into the garages, fire turnaround, car circulation and 4 guest parking spaces.

The enclosed main house area is 5,600+ square feet. The sitting room, kitchen, library, and bedrooms all orient Southeast and West, with outdoor terraces from each area. All the rest of the homeland is untouched. No trees will be touched.