Vellum Architecture, together with Osada Construction, has designed this modern home tucked into the mountainside at 3,200 feet above sea level in the Poplar Ridge neighborhood near Asheville, North Carolina. This home feels like it was built to rise organically from the terrain.
Designed to flow with the landscape, not fight it, the structure is both grounded and elevated — with cantilevered sections that reach out into the view and a living roof that blends seamlessly into its surroundings. A defining feature of the residence is its composition of two distinct volumes, connected by a bridge that houses the formal dining area.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Vellum Architecture INTERIOR DESIGN Vellum Architecture BUILDER Osada Construction LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT TTK Design Studio, Aceto Kimball
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.
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.
This carefully composed entry sequence culminates in the central Living Area, where expansive views unfold, connecting inhabitants to the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.
The primary volume accommodates the main living areas and guest bedrooms below. In contrast, the secondary volume contains the private owner’s bedroom 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.
Project Brief:
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.
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.
This is a house that lets nature in, and invites you to live with it, not just beside it.
What We Love About This Home
This striking mountainside home offers its inhabitants a fabulous indoor-outdoor living environment, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Expansive walls of glazing allow the scenery to take center stage, to be enjoyed from comfortable yet stylish furnishings. Overall, we are loving every detail of this home, from the striking exterior facade to the material selections and the inviting outdoor living spaces to enjoy nature.
Tell Us: What details do you love most about this modern mountain retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains? Let us know in the Comments below!
Note: Check out a couple of other amazing home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in the state of North Carolina: See this insanely stunning mountain dream retreat in Western North Carolina and Lake house bridges over three rocky ravines in the North Carolina mountains.
In the kitchen, polished marble meets warm wood, inviting a sensory dialogue that celebrates both craftsmanship and the essence of home.
A minimalist suspended fireplace becomes the sculptural heart of the outdoor living space, framing the landscape and the sky beyond.
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.
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.
The design of this home reflects a modern architectural response to the constraints and opportunities of its dramatic ridgeline site.
PHOTOGRAPHER Ryan Theede Photography
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