Walnut Creek Reserve
Mill Spring, North Carolina

A home for a retiring physician in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The homeowner was a child prodigy at the piano who developed hand injuries early in his career. Part of retirement was a chance to return to the piano and in this house, a special music room. Large, open views and a guest suite were the other key requirements for the home. In the panoramic view, we found two special vistas; a long face of shear rock to the south west and, a small peak directly to the west. Each primary room, the living room and the music room, point to these respectively. The approach from the access road, up the crest of the hill, is met by the long arcing concrete wall of the house. At the end, passage between the tall concrete walls brings one to the entry courtyard and reflecting pool. Inside, the double height foyer hints at the second-floor master suite and the gym and roof deck levels above. The living room and dining are beyond, with large open views to the Blue Ridge mountain range, previously obscured by the arcing wall. In the other direction, one descends to the music room with the grand piano, bookshelves, and canted to view to the shear faced range. Passage through the house is intended to provide a constant changing of section and scale, modulating further with the changing light of day and season.