Asheville, North Carolina
The home’s east-west axis maximizes solar exposure via a south-facing greenhouse. Here, an exposed concrete thermal mass wall absorbs the low winter sun, radiating warmth at night, supplemented by a wood-burning masonry heater. In summer, shaded by a continuous five-foot overhang, this same wall becomes a cool-sink; recovered heat is routed to the basement to drive a natural convective airflow loop for moisture management.
Situated perpendicular to the site’s dramatic 1,600-foot slope, the building’s geometry harnesses ascending daytime winds and descending night breezes for wind-induced ventilation. Above, a single-pitch shed roof mirrors the terrain, harvesting rainwater for greywater reclamation. Rooting the home in its bucolic setting, site-harvested black locust provides exterior cladding, structural columns, and live-edge accents. Ultimately, the design thrives on the poetic interdependence of its passive systems—perfectly calibrated to respect the living landscape and its built history.