Stillhouse Bluff Residence
A modern residence in central North Carolina.

This private residence was built upon a Chapel Hill property known historically as “Stillhouse Bluff”.  Moonshiners favored this spot because of chestnut trees which burned clean when used to fire the stills, thereby eluding federal agents.

The property had never been built upon or farmed, but in 1995 Hurricane Fran destroyed over 450 large deciduous trees, effectively clearing many areas. The crest of the hill affords a spectacular long north to north-east view of neighboring Durham county and a long horizon. The program of the house is for an animal friendly residence for two, allowing for future care of a parent, tied intimately into a garden featuring native plants and wildlife.

The response to the site was to design the house to maximize views from all the major rooms, lining them up along the crest. To bring the outdoors effectively inside, the main rooms are also connected to a central courtyard garden to the South. The garden was designed at the same time as the house to be intimately tied together.

The sounds of the natural environment, such as singing birds, frogs and crickets, figured largely in the design and add an aural dimension to the project. There are two garden ponds, one a large pond, and the other a tiny habitat for frogs to lay their eggs. The ponds are fed by rainwater most of the year. In the spring, the songs of the frogs afford a magical quality that people say sounds like “old North Carolina.”