Living Design

Streamline House:
Just Add Water

One look at the site and you’ll know why we call this residence Streamline House. Designed for a family of five, the home sits on a hill above a stream that pumps more than 300,000 gallons of crystal-clear water through the site each day.

The design of Streamline House was inspired by the homeowners’ desire for a home that speaks to local traditions of simple, regional vernacular, while seamlessly integrating modern sensibilities. Taking inspiration from the traditional Ozark porch home, the form is conceptually pushed and carved away by the flow of the site’s runoff as it makes its way toward the stream. The carves created by these passages of water are special connective moments in the architecture, and fully unite a veranda surrounding the home’s main level.

Brick was chosen as the primary material of the home for its weight and permanence. The light color mimics the bright white natural limestone outcroppings of the site, and the face of the brick appears to have been worn away by the conceptual water flow through and around the home. Corten retaining walls define the site to save existing mature trees while terracing the hill to create more usable outdoor space. An existing barn was also repurposed as activity space for the family’s three children’s, and a basketball court and sport lawn accommodate outdoor activity.

The home’s interior palette is comprised of natural materials and neutral tones and finishes. Large windows fill the home with natural daylight and offer close, uninterrupted views of the serene outdoor surroundings. Interior moments of brick further connect indoor living spaces with the home’s exterior form.

There is an undeniable connection between the stream and the residence built beside it. Streamline House is a home that cannot be separated from its site, and the homeowners wouldn’t have it any other way.

View the full project