Architects: Brooks + Scarpa

Area: 2573 ft²

Project year: 2024

Photographer: Mark Herboth

The Steeplechase House is located on 65 lush acres in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains near Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Designed as a place of reflection and rest - a pavilion among the trees, connected to the wider natural environment. The simple double-pitched roof reaches a height of 31 feet, and the large glass windows provide a visual connection between nature and indoor spaces, helping to form a deeper and more meaningful understanding between the natural and built environments.

The building’s reflective glass and black metal exterior gives the building an ever-changing presence between seasons; in summer it disappears into the dappled light of the forest, while in winter it stands out like a beacon, occasionally covered in winter snow, while The natural plywood interior creates a protected and warm gathering place while retaining spectacular views to the forest.

The building plan is organized around two open gabled volumes, representing the public and private areas of the house respectively. The kitchen/dining area connects the two sides of the house via a transparent, low-scale gallery-like corridor flanked by glass that makes moving between the two volumes feel like walking through a forest. This transitional space separates and connects the two unique areas of the house while providing a sense of spaciousness and escape.