Deer Trail // Marek Architecture

Architectural Design Team: Scott Marek, AIA and Hieu Le

Project Design Team:
General Contractor: Durham Builders
Landscape Design: Paper Kites Studio

Completed: 2016
Square Footage: 3,160

This residence is located on a sloping site, nestled between existing cedar, elm, and oak trees in the White Rock Valley neighborhood north of White Rock Lake. The home was designed for a family of five who previously lived in a midcentury Ju-Nel house. The owners enjoyed the openness to the outdoor spaces and natural materials of the house, but wished to create a home with more volume, better separation between bedrooms and living spaces, and a more functional kitchen. The home was designed vertically around a central staircase, with each landing featuring a distinct zone in order to create separation of space. The public spaces are located on the first level, opening directly to the outdoor living areas in the rear yard. The living room is highlighted with a fourteen-foot high ceiling. The garage sits elevated half a level above the living room but lower than the street, while the playroom, office, and utility room are located on the second floor. The family bedrooms are located on the upper floors for more privacy. The master suite, between the second and third level, maintains its own distinct space separate from the kids’ bedrooms located on the top floor. The exterior of the home is cladded in darkly stained cedar siding and zinc-grip metal panels to make the facade recessive. Deep, rough sawn battens are installed on the north and south facades to create a dynamic exterior texture pattern that becomes a rich backdrop for the tree shadows. Through the use of carefully selected exterior materials, the house reduces its scale to contextually blend with the surrounding environment.

Photography: Hieu Le