Windcliff
The Windcliff Residence, situated at 3,200 feet above sea level in the Poplar Ridge neighborhood near Asheville, North Carolina.
Size
-
Location
Asheville, NC
Project Team
Vellum Architects
Design Team
Osada Construction, Orling Finishes, Acetola
Completed
Spring 2025
Category
On The Boards
Project Brief
Embodies a modern architectural response to its dramatic mountain site.
Designed for a professional couple from Florida, the home serves as a retreat that integrates seamlessly with the landscape while addressing stringent height restrictions due to its proximity to the ridgeline.
Site Integration and Spatial Organization
Nestled into the mountainside, the design maximizes engagement with the surrounding topography, allowing direct outdoor access at multiple levels.
A defining feature of the residence is its composition of two distinct volumes connected by a bridge housing the formal dining area. The primary volume accommodates the main living areas and guest bedrooms below, while the secondary volume contains the private primary suite, with the home gym and library below, accessed via a floating stair. This organizational strategy enhances both privacy and functionality while reinforcing a sense of movement and discovery within the home.
Entry Sequence and Circulation
Given the challenge of an entry located on the narrow side of the structure, the design carefully choreographs arrival to heighten drama and anticipation.
A floating outdoor deck extends from the entry, anchored by a modern steel floating fireplace, while a linear skylight floods the main stairwell with natural light. This carefully composed entry sequence culminates in the central Living Area, where expansive views unfold, connecting inhabitants to the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.
Materiality and Indoor-Outdoor Connection
The Windcliff Residence exemplifies a responsive and poetic architectural solution to the constraints and opportunities of its ridgeline site.
The residence employs a material palette of board-formed concrete, shou sugi ban siding, and white stucco, accented with sassafras slats and soffits. These materials not only provide a tactile, durable exterior but also extend into interior spaces, reinforcing the seamless integration of inside and out. Board-formed concrete is a central feature, expressed prominently in the entry and carried through key interior moments.
Natural light plays a pivotal role in dissolving the boundaries between built form and landscape. Skylights, clerestory windows, and strategically placed openings frame views while illuminating interior spaces throughout the day. Outdoor destinations, including a planted roof over the garage, an elevated fire pit terrace, and a secluded garden accessed through the pantry and mudroom, further extend living spaces into the environment.
The Windcliff Residence exemplifies a responsive and poetic architectural solution to the constraints and opportunities of its ridgeline site. By integrating with the natural topography, embracing a carefully considered materiality, and orchestrating a dynamic sequence of movement, the design achieves a profound connection between habitation and landscape. The result is a modern mountain retreat that fosters tranquility, engagement with nature, and a heightened sensory experience of place.
