Hearth House

Fire, with its glowing warmth and flickering light, has long drawn people together. In the mountains and great outdoors, campfires still bring people together to laugh, tell a story, or share a drink. Traditionally in the home, a large centrally located hearth provided a place for a family to gather, warm themselves, and prepare meals. Hearth House returns the fire to the center of the home. The hearth becomes a central element that links together all spaces of the house. Formally, the genesis of the house is the traditional gabled cabin. However, unlike a traditional cabin, the house’s gable form roof cleaves in two to direct site lines away from the neighboring homes and to capture the most dramatic views. The fireplace acts as the fulcrum between these two halves of the house. Occupying the center of the structure, it becomes the focal point that the draws the living, dining, and kitchen together. On the lower floors, the two main bedrooms are attached to the same chimney mass. In these rooms the fire provides an intimate backdrop for relaxation, reading, or romance.