"The Hill," Dash Residence

Atlanta, Georgia
with Michael Gamble
1995 Georgia A/A Design Award Honorable Mention

This private residence for a family of four is located on a five-acre wooded hilltop with views overlooking the downtown Atlanta skyline. It is situated on the crest of an ancient tectonic plate shift, part of the Brevard Fault which runs from northern Alabama to Nova Scotia. The sharply angled course changes of the nearby Chattahoochee River are a result of these once violent upheaval forces. The owners' keen interest in primitive art and culture and their worldwide collection of artifacts was the genesis for expressing the primeval tie to the earth in a timeless manner. Local research of this concept led to the Mississippian culture at the Etowah Indian Mounds near Cartersville. The underlying theme of this research, both aesthetically and physically, was an appreciation for the universal narratives which depict the everyday, first hand interaction with the powerful forces of nature. Lessons learned provide valuable insights into the ecological problems confronting the global community today.

The central flow of family and visitors through the primary elements of the house is analogous to the Chattahoochee's flow through the nearby fracture. The qualities of open and closed space experienced as one journeys through the river gorge are directly applicable to those of everyday living. At the main entrance, rainwater is introduced as a symbolic element by an abstracted bird effigy perched on the library roof. The library itself is a contemporary version of Etowah's primal hut, with guest quarters, housekeeping, family living, dining, and kitchen activities completing the main floor. The flow through the house culminates with pools on the south side of the site, fulfilling the children's desire for great swimming holes and a regulation lap pool. Recreation, storage and wine cellar are located on the lower floor with the master bedroom suite and boys' bedrooms on the upper floor. The Eagle's nest rises above the top level for viewing the surrounding landscape, wildlife and distant skyline.

The construction utilizes local materials and craftsmanship, minimizes solar gain and incorporates sustainable materials and procedures wherever possible. Before demolition of the existing house, essential wood and metal products were extracted for recycling and reuse. The remaining structure was pulverized by a rotary crusher yielding finely ground organic and inorganic material which was used for fill and landscaping mulch.

Major materials are heat reflective, light colored, authentic stucco over a well-insulated 2x6s and composite truss joint framing made from reclaimed woodchip products. The granite pavers, Georgia marble, metal roof system and wood cabinetry are locally produced and manufactured reducing energy consumptive transportation costs. Solar heat gain is mediated by the placement of operable low emissivity glass windows in all rooms and use of the central stair shaft as an exhaust or warm air.