Double Gable Roof Home in North Carolina Mirrors its Environment

In the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains sits a home that reflects its environment—both in its design and in a literal sense.

Developed and designed in collaboration with architecture firms Brooks + Scarpa, Tonic Construction, and Katherine Hogan Architects, the more than 2,500-square-foot, striking twin gable roof home features a glass paneled exterior that mirrors the surrounding trees, camouflaging the home.

Situated on a 65-acre wooded site near the Eno River and just outside Raleigh-Durham, N.C., the home—known as Steeplechase House—serves as a sanctuary for its owners. The house is a tranquil retreat for its artistic owners, a Hollywood director and his wife, who sought a home outside of Los Angeles and reminiscent of their upbringing in Montreal.

The project stems from a decades-long relationship between the homeowners and lead architect Lawrence Scarpa, of Brooks + Scarpa, who first designed an award-winning office space for the clients more than 25 years ago.

According to Scarpa, the homeowners initially engaged him to help renovate an existing home on the North Carolina property. However, the vision for the project evolved over time, and the decision was made to start anew. At that time, Scarpa was given free rein to conceive a home that balanced the contemporary aesthetics the homeowners were going for with more unique architectural forms.

“They like all the contemporary stuff, and they liked wood, but they didn't have any guiding must-have things. It was similar to the first project I did with them," says Scarpa. "They allowed me to go with my artistic freedom. I was interested in the familiar form seen in an unfamiliar way. The gable is sort of synonymous with a traditional home, but it also feels a bit like a little chapel.”

A Futuristic Floorplan Inspired by Traditional Forms

With its dramatic double-gable roofs that soar 31 feet into the air, the Steeplechase House appears from the outside as two separate homes. It's connected by an internal courtyard, where the kitchen and dining areas serve as the heart of the home, connecting the two wings via a glass-enclosed gallery.

The home’s floorplan also serves another function: to separate the public and private spaces. Placing the bedroom and bathroom in one nook and the common areas in another adds a layer of separation when hosting guests.

This layout was also largely influenced by Scarpa’s interest in traditional architectural forms, with historic country homes and villages serving as his main inspiration for the design.

“I like the idea of the country home as a tradition where you have separate buildings arranged to work together. And I only had one building to work with, so I tried to make it more like a group that could have a dialogue with each other,” says Scarpa.

Warm, Rustic Interiors Suitable for a Contemporary Cabin

Inside, natural plywood paneling and oak flooring make the home feel light and bright while still providing a rustic feeling reminiscent of the surrounding forest.

Plywood accents can be found throughout the home, including in the kitchen and bar area, in an accent wall in the bedroom, and throughout the living room.

The white walls also provide a light and airy contrast to the dark exterior while adding to the homeowners’ contemporary style.

A Strong Dialogue with Nature

On the outside, the home features expansive glass walls that further create a relationship between the natural and built environments.

The home’s black corrugated metal exterior and reflective glass allow it to shift with the seasons. In summer, it appears to be part of the forest. However, when it snows in the winter, the dark metal exterior contrasts the white snow.

“I thought it was the right thing for that site, and it allows the building to extend into the landscape,” says Scarpa. “In the summer, it’s almost as though it’s cloaked, where you don’t even see the house because it’s so dark.”

Not only do the surrounding trees add to the beauty of the site, according to Scarpa, they also help mitigate issues with solar heat gain. Scarpa utilized lots of glass without concern about overheating the interior due to the heavy forestation shielding the home.