Owl's Hill

A mid-century modern estate nestled among the rolling hills of Williamson County

Written by Britt Steele & Dorren Robinson / Photography by David Boyer & Bruce Cain

There are few homes, if any, that have the privilege of residing in the middle of a 500-acre nature preserve, but the property, Owl’s Hill, loved and lived in by Saundra and the late Alex Steele does just that, in addition to having architectural significance and historical importance. Architect Bob Street broke not only the mold when creating this home, but dared to venture away from the more common Georgian or plantation-style homes that graced the neighborhoods of Nashville in the 1950s.

The original owners, Huldah Cheek Sharp and her husband, Walter Sharp, lived on the opulent estate of nearby Cheekwood before building Owl’s Hill. Huldah, who grew up in Cheekwood, later gifted the 18th Century English-styled manor home to become what we now know to be one of the South’s most beloved fine arts museums and botanical gardens. As part of the process of developing their new estate in Williamson County, the Sharps made sure every aspect of the home respected and honored the natural elements and beauty by which they were surrounded. Fittingly, the name of the property came to them from nature in the soft and alluring calls of the owls who lived in the arbors of the rolling acres. It became evident that the land was to be shared with the current residents of the property- the owls themselves.

Three years were spent building the estate from 1958 to 1961. The inspiration of Mies van der Rohe hampered the building process. Enormous spans of the steel beams, the undergirding of the home, had to be flown in by helicopter and individually placed by crane. The beams were a crucial component to the design and navigating them up the long and winding driveway was not an option. Some of Mies van der Rohe’s other luxurious and timeless features that embody his mid-century modernism can be found in ribbon-cut mahogany walls and doors; massive spans of glass; imported marble from Italy, via Cheekwood, not to mention the overall modular interior landscape indicative of the German-American architect.

The Steeles took over the property in 1993 and quickly realized they were not just the owners of this home, but stewards of the property. Saundra jokingly says “there is a laundry list of people who attend to the needs of this property and we want to make sure it is maintained and continually kept up in the manner in which it deserves – giving it the dignity it demands.”

After venturing up the long and winding driveway bordered by a low gray stonewall, guests encounter an orchard of apple trees native to the Northeast before glimpsing the strategically cantilevered structure whose sole purpose is to honor the bucolic land of Williamson County. Immediately inside the front door, guests ascend an elegant serpentine staircase leading them to the main floor, where the modular interior landscape is on display. And the 12-foot ceilings throughout the residence provide the perfect backdrop for the contemporary art the Steeles collected over the years. Pieces include works by Mexican artist Javier Marin, Spanish artist Jaume Plensa and London-based artist Jason Martin.

The crowning piece of their vast collection of contemporary art is a large blue disk by internationally-renowned artist Anish Kapoor. The piece resides in the front salon, overlooking the valley where deer and wild turkeys roam freely. The incredible collection of contemporary art the Steele’s so lovingly and carefully procured over the years not only enhances each room but allows for a level of sophistication in juxtaposition to nature outside. One of the most visually rewarding aspects made possible by the architectural design is the vast amount of glass in the home. Large floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors used extensively in the house graciously connect the interior to the exterior, providing ample opportunities to indulge in nature at any point throughout.

After residing in the home for several years, the Steeles realized that among all the natural elements reflected in the interior and exterior of their home, that something was missing, the element water. Their vision of adding a refecting pool was executed with the help of Ben Page, an award-winning landscape architect with the firm Page Duke. The reflecting pool is surrounded by a bamboo garden that was added to the back of the home in order to create a truly Zen environment. However, Ben’s influence extends beyond the footprint of the home. He updated the vegetation of the property, strategically adding blooming and aesthetically interesting plants and trees to offset but compliment the native growth of 90-year-old oak and walnut trees.

Years later, on becoming empty nesters, with both daughters off on their own paths, the Steeles were ready to recreate their living environment, again. They asked Bobby McAlpine and Ray Booth, from the legendary U.S. design firm McAlpine, Booth & Ferrier, to alter the home’s interior cool lines and linear vision to one of tactile warmth and unification, juxtaposing the stark exterior design with a soothing interior environment. Adding rich yet subtle hues and pairing unexpected textures such as cowhide and velvet, the Steeles and the design team created a sensory and luxurious experience. After what took almost a year to execute, they were able to achieve the result - making the entire estate a paradox of itself, incorporating modernity with nature, old with new, inside and out.

In addition to considering herself a steward, Saundra Steele is also the property’s conservator, going to great lengths to preserve every aspect of this unique estate. “The best years of my life were spent here,” she said. “I grew up in nature in the middle of a state park in Maryland, and I had the luxury of revisiting that and sharing that with my family here. We were able to provide our daughters with the rare opportunity to discover the dignity and the sensory experience of nature and art side-by-side. I want to preserve that for others.”

The property is so close yet so far. Less than 15 minutes from Green Hills and Cool Springs, Owl’s Hill resides slightly outside Davidson County. Yet upon entering its iron gates, guests are immediately transported into what feels like a sanctuary on 500 rolling green acres most of which are preserved in perpetuity. Only 23 acres belong to the estate. The rest was donated to the Land Trust of Tennessee to ensure the vision of nature is preserved for generations. That was the vision of both the founding owners of Owl’s Hill and its present: that man and nature coexist elegantly. That idea has taken fight as neighbors of Owl’s Hill have signed over some of their acreage to the Land Trust to ensure the juxtaposition remains.