Foothills Architecture

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Location: Banner Elk, NC

Area: 3,700 SF

Architect: Refine Design Architecture

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This project was conceived as an exploration of blocks, planes, and frames—each element carefully composed to balance the power of the site with the refinement of architecture. The design creates an interplay between figure and ground, calling out circulation paths, prioritizing views, and establishing a cohesive exterior formal gesture that is both prominent and simplified.

Vertical stone and wood masses reference the towering peaks, while the long horizontal rooflines extend outward, mirroring the sweeping panoramic horizons. The delicate frames and posts recall the rhythm of surrounding trunks and branches, tying the home back to its forested edge.

The main level lifts the living spaces above the meadow, allowing long views across the treetops to the iconic mountain ridges beyond. In contrast, the lower level provides an intimate relationship with the protected woods, where glass walls open directly to a private meadow. Together, the two levels offer dual experiences of the land—one expansive and distant, the other grounded and serene.

The result is a modern mountain residence that demonstrates a home that is both bold in form and deeply connected to its natural setting.

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