Spring Hill House

What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?

The owners, a retired couple desiring to move back to an area where the wife had grown up, bought an existing house that was designed by architect John Beard for his own residence, desiring an addition to accommodate their needs.

Can you describe your design process for the building?

The design process was very hands-on. The house was constructed in two phases several years apart, yet a conscious effort was made to blend both phases together seamlessly, so that the building never felt like an original plus an add-on. The first phase was constructed by architect John Beard without the use of a general contractor. The design remained fluid, and at the beginning of construction there was little more than a floor plan and several rough elevations. On-site strategizing included developing details and producing sketches from which to work. Given that John designed and constructed the house himself, design-build was the only practical option. This also allowed the house to be built with an impressive scale and design, at a modest cost. Because the Harpoles intended to hire a contractor upon purchasing the building for the intended addition, the design was approached in a more conventional manner. Working closely with the clients, Beard + Riser developed a program and aesthetic that suited both the functional needs of the home’s new owners, while designing an idiosyncratic structure that feels rooted in the rural Mississippi landscape.

How does the building compare to other projects in your office, be it the same or other building types?

Clearly, the fluidity of the design and construction process of the original residence is not practical for most projects, particularly commercial work. However, the attention to detail and a hands-on approach does typify our approach to any project. We feel that good design always starts with practical solutions to basic problems.

How does the building relate to contemporary architectural trends, be it sustainability, technology, etc.?

Sustainability, as well as a response to regional precedents, was a major focus of both the original phase and the addition. The use of salvaged materials, proper orientation for maximum solar control and a desire to conserve existing mature trees and garden remnants were the driving forces behind almost all design decisions. An existing abandoned house on the site was dismantled and the
materials salvaged for re-use. The tin roofing from the old home was used for the ceiling in the combined living, dining and kitchen area. Salvaged pine and cypress boards were used throughout the building as wall cladding and built-in cabinetry. The house is oriented along an east-west axis to maximize solar control. A large southfacing overhang allows the sun to penetrate the living area during winter while blocking direct sun during summer. A screened porch located at the highest point of the roof maximizes air circulation and helps dissipate summer heat while translucent fiberglass panels along the overhang allow constant north light to filter through the house. The
exterior cladding is cedar boards, fiber cement panels, corrugated tin and rough-sawn pine harvested from the property. Finally, an architectural language was sought that was a modernist take referencing the Southern vernacular – that’s something we’re pretty passionate about. We just feel like it’s very important that we design buildings specific to the place and the people who are using them; we’d like our architecture to feel uniquely Southern.