White Residence VOTE
TypeNew
LocationSouthern Pines, NC
Year Completed2023
Square Footage2760
Description
Set within a dense stand of mature pines, the White Residence is shaped by three site conditions: ground, movement, and canopy. The architecture amplifies the sensory experience of inhabiting the forest.
At ground level, a soft, sloping carpet of pine needles absorbs sound and draws occupants inward. The house both anchors and lifts - embedded into the terrain at one end while hovering lightly at the other. Walkout decks extend living spaces outward, allowing daily life to engage directly with the landscape.
The plan meanders along the site’s bowl-shaped edge, forming a subtle boomerang that opens views in multiple directions. Movement through the house echoes walking among the trees, slowing perception and framing shifting perspectives of trunks, light, and topography.
Above, a sculpted roof reads as a floating canopy, shaping and filtering diffuse daylight deep into the interior. Walls sit independently beneath it, like vertical tree trunks, reinforcing a layered spatial experience.
A bold yellow exterior - derived from complementary tones in the landscape - contrasts with the forest’s muted palette, while vertical cladding echoes the rhythm of the pines. Designed as a single-story residence, the home integrates aging-in-place principles, creating a lasting retreat grounded in accessibility and place.
Firm Information
Firm NameThoughtCraft Architects
Project LeaderJason Hart, AIA, LEED AP
AddressDurham, NC 27701
Phone919-371-0721
EmailJW@ThoughtCraftArchitects.com
Websitehttps://www.ThoughtCraftArchitects.com
Project Team
Structural Engineer, Woodard Sease & Associates; Interior Designer, ThoughtCraft Architects; General Contractor, Aiello Builders; Photographer, Mark Herboth Photography
Video URLhttps://vimeo.com/1079664090