Orange County, North Carolina
Alternately called “The Trapezoid House,” Cassilhaus comprises three trapezoidal volumes across a very steep and densely forested site with views of Duke University Forest and New Hope Creek. The design of the house followed a rigorous program-driven architectural process with an unusual thesis—beyond their basic living requirements, the art and design loving owners wanted to host an artist residency and art gallery on site.
Design concept and solution:
The three central program elements for the project were two independent living areas—a 3,000-square-foot main house and a completely self-contained 1,000-square-foot guest house/artist studio—as well as dedicated gallery and storage spaces to house an extensive photography collection.
Two living “pods”—a multi-level main house and a self-contained guest house programmed for month-long visiting artist residencies—are joined by a long bridging structure housing the photography gallery and master suite, all of which is encircled by a clerestory. The clerestory maximizes reflected light without allowing direct sunlight on the photography collection, and gives the appearance of floating roofs. The metal roof over the bridge, lowered at the main pod, brings southern light via a second clerestory into the owner’s living area to the north. The seamless integration of the main volumes affords visiting artists the ability to control their level of privacy from total isolation to intimate connection as well as enjoy common use of gallery, library, and laundry spaces.
Outdoor spaces are a major focus, incorporating a south-facing roof terrace with outdoor shower, screened porch, multiple decks, and an at-grade terrace. Views to the forest and stream are to the north. The site’s steep slope allowed for a walk-in basement level for art storage, utility, and mechanical spaces. A carport and stone landscape retaining walls built from site-excavated stone complete the program.
Total construction cost:
Withheld
People
Owner
Architect
Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:
Engineer(s)
Consultant(s)
Lighting Design:
Kitchen Design:
Building Performance Consultant:
Audio/Video and Security Consultant:
General contractor
Photographer
Frank Konhaus
CAD system, project management, or other software used: |
Products
Structural system
Structural Steel by Custom Steel
Exterior cladding
Wood: Western Red Cedar
EIFS, ACM, or other
Installed by Reynolds Construction
Roofing
Installed by Pickard Roofing
Windows:
Doors
Sliding doors: Exterior Pella
Hardware
Interior Pocket Doors: Johnson Hardware
Custom Stair Rails:
Wood Stove:
Grommets: Doug Mockett
Door stops:
Interior Tree Grates:
Cabinet hardware:
Murphy Bed System:
Interior finishes
Siematic
Brookhaven
Custom cedar ceiling
Paints and stains:
Installed by Hansell Painting
Plastic laminate:
Kitchen backsplashes: Eco-gres by Coverings etc.
Entry hall and lower bath: Rex Ceramiche Meteaux Roulle Rouge
Master bathroom: Tau Ceramica Corten A.
Guest bathroom: Portobello Galleria D'arte Domenico Verde
Granite countertops: Prescott Stone Fabricators
Pre fabricated Corian shower bases:
Resilient flooring:
Carpet: Bolyu
Wood flooring: Custom Quarter Sawn Cherry and Ash
Furnishings
Library chairs by IKEA
Tables: Custom Breakfast Table by Seth Rolland (Port Townsend, WA)
Library coffee table custom designed and built by Ellen Cassilly Architect
Deck table by Butch Anthony
Other furniture:
Vintage George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller
Dresser by Blu Dot
Living room coffee table by Naos
Master bedroom set by: Lago
Dining Pendant: Foscarini
Kitchen and Living Room Pendants: Louis Poulsen
Artist Studio Pendant: Itre
Artist Studio Sconce: Fontana Arte
Library Pendant: Flaver
Master Bath Ceiling Fixture: Ron Rezek for Artemide
Master Bedroom and Living Room Uplights: Visa
Master Bedroom Table Lamps: Foscarini
Ceiling utility lighting:
Exterior: Kim LED wall sconces
Controls: Lutron lighting controls and dimmers
Plumbing
Master sinks by Lacava
Dual Flush Toilets by Toto
Kitchen sinks by Franke
Faucets by Grohe, Danze, Jado, and Hansgrohe
Lower bathroom sink by Kohler
Outdoor Shower by Pool Shower
Solar Hot Water System by Southern Energy Management
Rainwater Collection Cistern by Green Horizon |
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