case studies
A House of the Hill The Value of Site Integration in Sustainable Residential Development BY CARRIE VOGLER t was May 2014 when we first received an inquiry about forestry mulching a building lot in Weaverville to clear unwanted brush and invasive vegetation. Forestry mulching is a unique technology for mechanically grinding the vegetation into mulch without disturbing the topsoil. On this property, the work uncovered steep uneven terrain with large protruding boulders and lots of water, primarily crossing the site in two rocky drainages, but also oozing out of the mountainside after rainfall. The walkable area comprised less than a quarter of an acre, but clearing the understory revealed enough to allow the process of site development and house design to begin. As specialists in residential site development, it is common for us to find that owners and builders become “house centric,” focusing primarily on the more tantalizing details of the home such as kitchens and bathrooms. In reality, the greatest impact a new home can have on the environment and on its occupants lies in its site integration. The planning of the location, orientation, altitude of the house and the impact area affects everything about how the home is experienced; from vehicular approach, parking, entrance and exit, stairways, drainage, gutter tie ins, privacy, foot access around the house, and landscaping, to solar and wind exposure and more.
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In the mountains, technical site preparation becomes a significant part of a building budget, and must be thoroughly explored during the planning process. The commonplace method of cutting a wedge out of the mountain to create a flat spot is a poor strategy that often leads to problems around the house; poor drainage and failing cut slopes behind the home, and landslides resulting from poorly compacted fill slopes are far too common. One of our long-time company mantras sums it up well: “If you tear up a mountainside to build it, it’s not green built.” The client was very specific about a few features of the project. It would be an owner/contractor-built house large enough to accommodate the in-laws when that time came, and designed to look old and rustic, appearing as a natural part of the landscape rather than an imposition upon it. He wanted a home with the highest possible efficiency rating including certification through Green Built Homes and LEED for Homes, as well as ADA compliance to allow for aging in place. A separate three-car garage with office space above also had to be integrated into the site. The initial team assembled in 2016 included the geotechnical engineer, landslide geologist, civil engineer, grading specialists, architect and builder. Once the landslide assessment came back on the acceptable end
This water feature was an opportunity to capture and enhance water flow, while adding leisure space. V&V LAND MANAGEMENT PHOTOS The property is pictured here prior to the beginning of site work.
“No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together, each the happier for the other.” — Frank Lloyd Wright
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