Pavillion House by Rusafova-Markulis Architects

On the exterior the two pavilions and the carport are clad with flat sheets of corten steel - a utilitarian material that requires no upkeep as it weathers with time…

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From the architect: Pavilion House was commissioned by a single client who wanted us to design an age in place home for him in Asheville, NC. His lot was located within a subdivision that used to be one big farm with open pastures, scattered mature oaks and patches of dense woods. The small parcel had an unusual triangular shape - half meadow, half Forrest, bordered by houses to the East and a long distance view towards the common green space through the backyards of the neighbors' properties.

As response to the site constraints and our client's program for a simple one level home we envisioned the design as two pavilions - a social wing and a private bedroom wing with a two car carport framing an auto-court towards the street. We situated the pavilions on the site according to the ancient technique of "shakkei" which translates as "borrowed landscape". Both pavilions were to present an austere facade towards the street and the houses to the East but connect with ample glazing on the back towards the meadow view through the neighbor's properties to the South.

The separate wings shift in plan to define the main entry - a glass connector with a view towards the back yard. Once inside, to the left is the main pavilion which has higher ceilings and houses the kitchen, the dining area, and the living room in one single space. The owner accesses the social wing through the mud entry off the carport that leads into he kitchen. An avid cook, he requested plenty of counter space, a gracious island and a cozy pantry. A sliding door in the kitchen connects to the outdoor grill area.

A guest bedroom, a music room and a primary bedroom suite are housed in the private wing of the house with utilitarian spaces located towards the street and bedrooms facing South with access to the covered deck through sliding doors. We intentionally connected each room of the house to the covered deck to create the opportunity for the owner to use the deck as an outdoor corridor on an every day basis and hopefully spend more time outdoors.

The interiors are decidedly clean and minimal, with generous open spaces, white oak wood flooring and mill work and dark gray accents.

On the exterior the two pavilions and the carport are clad with flat sheets of corten steel - a utilitarian material that requires no upkeep as it weathers with time.

Architect: Rusafova-Markulis Architects
Location: Asheville, North Carolina, USA
Year: 2022
Project size: 2,000 ft2
Site size: 47,363 ft2
Builder: Green Light Home Builders
Landscape Architect: Vision Design Collaborative
Structural Engineering: GILES FLYTHE ENGINEERS
Photography: Ryan Theede