American studio Sanders Pace Architecture took cues from traditional Japanese architecture to create a house that looks toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Short Mountain House is located in the town of Maryville in eastern Tennessee.
Short Mountain House sits on a tree-filled ridge
Perched on a ridge, the dwelling has panoramic views of the national park, which is known for its rolling mountains, old-growth forests and preserved 19th-century homesteads.
Sanders Pace Architecture, based in the nearby city of Knoxville, designed the residence for a couple who often have family members visiting from out of town.
Three pavilions connect to form the house
To provide enough space and privacy for everyone, the architects divided the home into three, connected pavilions, which are arrayed on a rectangular site. This configuration enables the house to be compartmentalised when guests come to stay.
Wood-lined porches overlook the lawn
To help the house blend with its natural setting, the architects clad the foundations with stone and the walls in accoya wood ? both charred and naturally stained.
The blackened accoya was burnt using the Japanese art of Shou Sugi Ban, which helps increase the material's longevity.
"The heavily charred surface of the board makes the wood fire retardant, as well as resistant to rot, insects and decay," the team said.
Charred timber clads the exterior
A series of recessed patios are informed by engawas, an element in Japanese archit...