Fold House
Boone, North Carolina
The inspiration for this low budget, single-family residential project derived from a vernacular agriculture building used as a shelter for sheep and other animals: the fold. A fold is essentially a walled enclosure or a lean-to type structure that often grows out of the earth; it is a very practical building that is no more than it needs to be. The Fold House is a personification of this notion and is a response to our primitive nature as humans to create a basic shelter from the indigenous resources and culture of an area, which is seen in the simplicity of the structure, its minimized footprint, and material selection. Formally, the wood framed residence is composed of two folding masses that are modern abstractions of various animal folds; one is made of recycled barn planks, reminiscent of gathered wood that has been propped up and another that is clad in concrete fiber board, evoking an outcropping of earth or stacked rocks. Clear anodized aluminum windows separate the folding masses from one another while corrugated metal siding provides a vernacular infill reminiscent of local barns. The concept of fold is used not only in the forms, but repetitively through the project in many aspects of detailing and planning, such as the roof scuppers and the wrapping motion of the stairway as well as in the overlap of spaces. Only 1700 heated square feet, the design attempts to maximize as much space as possible, which is exhibited through the roof top garden and outdoor living area as well as the fold up glass garage door that extends the living room onto the covered porch. And while the project has a focus towards long-range mountain views, it is also concerned with basic sustainable features, as seen in its passive solar orientation and rain water collection from the scuppers.
