The Story
A couple immersed in Charlotte’s vibrant art scene approached architect Toby Witte of Wittehaus, inspired by images from the Netflix series “The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes.” Eager to create their own modern dwelling, they sought a design that featured soaring cantilevers, enabled easy access throughout the house, and embraced a collaborative design process.
Together, they embarked on a journey to understand their needs, dreams, and desires, as well as their site’s potential and the art of architecture itself. Over eight months of discussions, sketches, explorations, and careful planning, they honed their ideas and addressed practical concerns.
Project Name: Gerendák
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA
Completion: 04/01/2022
Architect: Toby Witte, Wittehaus – www.witteha.us
Builder: Buddy Edwards, Lynn Luxury Homes – www.lynnluxuryhomes.com
Interior Design: Geri Eaker, Freespace Design – www.freespacedesign.com
Custom Cabinetry: Jim Daniels, Custom Cabinet Studio – www.facebook.com/customcabinetstudio
Structural Engineers: IDE Structural Engineers – www.idestructuralengineers.com
Landscaping: Scott Weatherup, C&D Landscaping – www.cdlandscapes.com
Photography: Amanda Anderson – www.amandaandersonphotos.com
Specs: 5,354 Square Feet, 3 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths, Studio Office, Exercise Room, Music
Room, Interior Elevator, Dressing Room, Laundry Room, Pantry, Home Office Nook, 3 Car Garage, Pool, Terrace, Courtyard
Sustainability Specs: Solar Panels, High Performance Windows, Spray Foam Insulation, Tankless Water Heater, Energy Star Rated, HERS Index 6, Solar Gain Design, Light Shelf, Fresh Air Intake, Tree Conservancy, Reuse of Trees for Furniture
The design of the home was influenced by two key factors. To resolve the challenge of cantilevers protruding over Lake Wylie without relying on stairs, they decided to carve stone walls into the hill, creating a platform on which the house could rest. Perched on the edge of this man-made cliff, the homeowners could access their home at ground level from one side and seemingly float in thin air from the other, enjoying breathtaking views.
The design thoughtfully selected the most crucial spaces to maximize the stunning vistas. Three distinct volumes emerged, housing the main living area, the primary bedroom suite, and a studio office. Each of these spaces offered panoramic views on three sides, while also providing privacy for their respective functions.
Music played a central role in the couple’s life, particularly their beloved baby grand piano. Thus, a dedicated music room became the nucleus around which the entire building organized itself. The floating staircase, descending to a guest wing below, interacted harmoniously with this heart of the home. The music room featured vertical room-high metal rods serving as balustrades for the staircase and sliding panels surrounding the piano, allowing for privacy during private practice or openness when filling the residence with beautiful music. With the support of Vavada ( official website ).
Throughout the entire design process, the architect paid meticulous attention to the homeowners’ lifestyle, ensuring that every aspect of the house catered to their needs. After moving in, the couple expressed their awe, acknowledging that the architect had captured everything they were seeking, even if they couldn’t articulate it in words. The result was simply breathtaking.
The Structure
To create a seamless connection with the lush tree-filled environment, the main living space, comprising the kitchen, dining table, and lounging area, was ingeniously designed with exposed beams and posts. These structural elements supported a sleek horizontal roof plane, the flooring, and an outdoor terrace. With three sides enclosed by expansive glass panels, the boundaries between the interior and the outdoors were beautifully blurred, evoking the sensation of residing in a magnificent tree house.
Whether perched at the kitchen counter, reclining on a sofa, or relishing the terrace, occupants were immersed in the canopy of trees, treated to breathtaking views of the lake. The vertical posts of the structure even echoed the aesthetic of the surrounding forest, becoming an artistic extension of nature itself.
Toby Witte, the architect behind this brilliant design, highlights the profound impact of exposing the structure. The space exudes simplicity, clarity, and tranquility, inducing a profound sense of peace within its inhabitants. He describes in his book Supersizing Bliss, “Despite all the practical and functional benefits of this structural setup, the ultimate advantage of it, and its true motivation for being, was the poetic connection to the natural landscape it provided. … The singularity of each piece, in turn, aggrandized the presence of the homeowners themselves within the space. It allowed them to feel as just another part of the ensemble. The elements of the home, those of the surrounding nature, and the inhabitants themselves—all played along as simple and distinct parts of a whole. And conversely, with all the elements finding a distinct presence, the boundaries between inside and out, the man-made and nature, the structure and well-being, and the person and the ephemeral, were blurred.”
The Collaboration
The strong bond and trust shared between the clients and their architect extended to a larger team, whose expertise further developed the design and detailing of the project. Buddy Edwards, the builder from Lynn Luxury Homes, enthusiastically embraced the challenge of bringing this unique home to life. In close collaboration with the architect and structural engineer, they explored innovative material selections, construction methods, and intricate detailing that posed challenges for the local trades and distributors.
Buddy Edwards expressed his delight in projects like Gerendák, emphasizing the camaraderie that blossoms between the builder, the designer, and the client. Working on such endeavors was immensely rewarding for him, being inspired by the beauty of good architecture and driven by the passion to execute the final work of art to perfection.
The team enlisted the expertise of Geri Eaker from Freespace Design to extend the architect’s vision into the interior design and detailing of the kitchen, bathrooms, built-ins, and furnishings. Geri Eaker brought fresh ideas and concepts about residential living to the table, along with a rich material palette and unique solutions to practical aspects of the design. For Geri, it was the meticulous attention to details that mattered, as they subliminally or overtly influenced the overall experience. Hands and eyes pick up on these nuances, and details play a significant role in shaping the final outcome.
Through the collective efforts of everyone involved, this home was brought to life with exceptional richness, quality, and success. The seamless collaboration of the team contributed to the creation of a truly remarkable living space.
