A Virginia Home That Folds Into the Landscape
Story at a Glance:
- The 9,800-square-foot home is embedded into the hillside, with a planted roof that disguises its structure and naturally integrates it into the site.
- Architectural features like a curved retaining wall and cantilevered roof extend the home's contemporary aesthetic while respecting the landscape.
- Materials such as locally-sourced timber, stone, and concrete with mountain-derived aggregate create a cohesive, earthy palette throughout the residence.
- Interior spaces are designed for both openness and intimacy, including a sunken lounge and a stone soaking tub that evoke a strong connection to nature.
It was the lot that initially drew the clients to Clarke County, Va. So when reaching out to Purcellville, Va.-based custom builder and interior design firm Gruver Cooley and New York City-based architecture firm RAAD Studio to build their 9,800-square-foot home on the site, reflecting the landscape’s unique character became a priority.
Rather than imposing a structure onto the property, the design team sought to create a home that felt inseparable from the environment.
According to Cathleen Gruver, lead interior designer at Gruver Cooley, the property was intended as a second home for the clients, so enhancing the indoor-connection and creating a peaceful environment was crucial for the design.
From its locally sourced materials and earthy color palette to its sculptural form that appears to disappear into the hillside, the home was designed as a contemporary interpretation of the site itself.
“The whole [design] concept was emphasizing integration with nature,” says Gruver.
A Geometric Form That Disappears Into the Ground
The home appears to rise out of the hillside, with a planted roof further integrating the structure into the landscape. Rather than simply placing the house onto the site, the design team took advantage of the hilly site to embed the home into the ground. A cantilevered roofline extends the structure outward while reinforcing its contemporary aesthetic.
“I love how the architect brought the earth all the way up into the crack between the primary bedroom and the living room,” says Gruver. “The overhang is vast, so it helps with sun exposure and provides protection from rain.”
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The home’s long, winding driveway adds to its contemporary approach. Framed by a curved, slanted retaining wall, the drive carefully controls the approach while adding what founder of RAAD Studio James Ramsey refers to as a "theatrical moment."
The retaining wall itself became one of the project’s most technically ambitious features, requiring precision engineering and craftsmanship to achieve its dramatic form.
“It was an incredibly crazy thing to have to build, but it really creates this almost Japanese minimalist, brutalist moment with the concrete,” says Ramsey.
While the entry takes on a more intimate, narrow approach, the rear elevation opens fully to the surrounding landscape. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls nearly dissolve the boundary between the interior and exterior, extending the living spaces to a landscaped pool and seating area.
Natural Materials That Match the Landscape
To reinforce the connection between the home and its environment, nearly all of the materials were sourced from within a 20-mile radius of the site. The structure itself is composed of locally sourced timber, while the concrete incorporates aggregate excavated directly from the surrounding mountain terrain. Stone for the fireplace was also sourced directly from the site.
The design team also used repeating patterns and textures throughout the home to create a sense of continuity. For instance, slatted wood walls echo the slatted glass detailing on the entry door, while warm white oak and a palette of neutral, earthy hues connect each of the rooms.
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“Every space is special and unique, but collectively, it all fits together,” says Gruver.
Interior Spaces That Match the Environment
The materials and color palette help blurs the lines between inside and out, but the home’s floor plan also plays a major role in strengthening that connection. In one of the home's four full bathrooms, a stone soaking tub enclosed by glass walls creates the feeling of bathing within the landscape itself.
An underground lap pool below the primary bedroom mirrors this idea. The space, which features the pool as well as a sauna and custom steam room, is illuminated with star-like ceiling lights. The walls and ceiling surrounding the pool were also hand-stamped to create a subtle wood-grain texture.
“In the pool area, we wanted the water to be the focal point, creating this blue oasis feeling, while the textures support that atmosphere,” says Gruver.
Elsewhere, the home balances openness with intimacy through a series of carefully scaled spaces. In one part of the home, a sunken lounge lit only by a 10-foot skylight offers a cozy retreat while still drawing in natural light.
“We wanted to embrace that contrast between small, intimate spaces and large, expansive ones,” says Ramsey.
Project Details:
Location: Clarke County, Va.
Area: 9,800 square feet
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 4 bedrooms/4.5 baths
Builder: Gruver Cooley
Architect: RAAD Studio
Interior Design: Gruver Cooley
Landscape Architect: River’s Edge Landscaping
Photos: Jennifer Hughes
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About the Author
Catherine Sweeney
Catherine Sweeney is the associate editor for Pro Builder and Custom Builder, where she creates both digital and print content, including Pro Builder’s daily e-newsletter and various news stories for both brands. Before joining Endeavor, she began her career in local journalism, later pivoting to the commercial real estate industry where she worked for several years as a reporter and editor.