Single Family Residence

Metairie, Louisiana

2015
A modern, single-family residence on a prominent, oak tree shaded corner in Metairie
Private Client, client
10,000 sf
Collaborators:

Wayne Troyer FAIA

Julie Babin

 

Photography:

George Long

Project Type: Interiors, Residences

This design evolved as an effort to achieve simplicity in form and materiality in a large, single-family residence. With a prominent corner lot in an Old Metairie neighborhood under a dense canopy of live oak trees, the house announces itself as an entirely contemporary design with humble restraint. The building avoids overbearing through a strategy of “stepping volumes” which relate to the scale of neighboring homes and oak trees and are rendered with smooth white stucco, limestone paneling, and wood slats. It is a warm, modern material palette. The house is U-shaped, wrapping around a yard which includes a pool with terraced seating, cabana with outdoor kitchen and lounge area. On the primary street, the main entry is a recessed, glazed volume creating a double height exterior entry foyer with a “weightless” glass stair visible beyond. A skylight directs light onto the stair from above. On the tertiary street, entry is through the garage. Service quarters and a guest suite sit above, with a private entrance.

A classic division of public and private spaces informs the program organization.  The open-plan first floor is loosely defined by service “volumes” conceived as furniture, which house the kitchen, pantry, bathrooms and bar.  Formal and informal living rooms are arranged around these pieces, and have strong connections to the exterior through large expanses of glass. A spiral staircase in the informal living room provides more private access to the second floor, where bedrooms, bathrooms, a play room, utility and storage spaces are located. The pool will be heated using solar thermal panels, and the house will have a back up power option linked to PV panels in case of emergency.