Orange County, North Carolina

Alternately called “The Trapezoid House,” Cassilhaus comprises three trapezoidal volumes across a very steep and densely forested site with views of Duke University Forest and New Hope Creek. The design of the house followed a rigorous program-driven architectural process with an unusual thesis—beyond their basic living requirements, the art and design loving owners wanted to host an artist residency and art gallery on site.

Design concept and solution:
The three central program elements for the project were two independent living areas—a 3,000-square-foot main house and a completely self-contained 1,000-square-foot guest house/artist studio—as well as dedicated gallery and storage spaces to house an extensive photography collection.

Two living “pods”—a multi-level main house and a self-contained guest house programmed for month-long visiting artist residencies—are joined by a long bridging structure housing the photography gallery and master suite, all of which is encircled by a clerestory. The clerestory maximizes reflected light without allowing direct sunlight on the photography collection, and gives the appearance of floating roofs. The metal roof over the bridge, lowered at the main pod, brings southern light via a second clerestory into the owner’s living area to the north. The seamless integration of the main volumes affords visiting artists the ability to control their level of privacy from total isolation to intimate connection as well as enjoy common use of gallery, library, and laundry spaces.

Outdoor spaces are a major focus, incorporating a south-facing roof terrace with outdoor shower, screened porch, multiple decks, and an at-grade terrace. Views to the forest and stream are to the north. The site’s steep slope allowed for a walk-in basement level for art storage, utility, and mechanical spaces. A carport and stone landscape retaining walls built from site-excavated stone complete the program.

Total construction cost:
Withheld

People

Owner
Frank Konhaus and Ellen Cassilly

Architect
Ellen Cassilly Architect, Inc.
600 Foster Street
Durham, NC 27701
919.530.1149 P
919.949.9080 M
919.530.1718 F
www.ellencassillyarchitect.com

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:
Ellen Cassilly, AIA, LEED AP Principal in Charge and lead design architect
Anna Wirth, AIA, Project Architect

Engineer(s)
Structural: 
Excel Engineering
Rob Munach, PE

Consultant(s)
Landscape Architect:
David Swanson Landscape Architect, PLLC
David Swanson, RLA  ASLA
www.swansonlandscapearchitecture.com

Lighting Design: 
Colorlume
Jeffrey L. Brown, IALD, IES
www.colorlume.com

Kitchen Design:  
The Kitchen Specialist
Mary Liebhold, CKD
www.thekitchenspecialist.com

Building Performance Consultant:                       
Enivronmental Quality Control
Jeff Reilich
www.eqcinc.net

Audio/Video and Security Consultant:
KONTEK Systems, Inc.
Frank Konhaus, CTS
www.kontek.com

General contractor
L. E. Meyers Builders
Myron Weiler, Construction Supervisor
www.lemeyersbuilders.com

Photographer
James West  JWest Productions
Photo © James West JWest Productions
919.838.1144
jameswest@jwestproductions.com
www.jwestproductions.com

Frank Konhaus
Photo © Frank Konhaus
919.616.0555
fkonhaus@kontek.com

CAD system, project management, or other software used:
PowerCADD
Google SketchUp

 

Products

Structural system
Steel framework, 2x6 and 2x8 wood stud system, open web wood trusses

Structural Steel by Custom Steel
www.customsteel.org

Exterior cladding
Concrete: Tri-City Contractors
www.tricitycontractors.com

Wood: Western Red Cedar
www.wrcla.org

EIFS, ACM, or other
STO stucco
www.stocorp.com

Installed by Reynolds Construction
rustyreynolds@nc.rr.com

Roofing
Metal: Galvalume standing seam metal roof
Sheffield Metals (US Steel)
www.galvalume.com

TPO Roofing
Versico
www.versico.com

Installed by Pickard Roofing
www.pickardroofing.com

Windows:
Wood: Aluminium clad wood windows by Pella
www.pella.com

Doors
Entrances: Pella
www.pella.com

Sliding doors: Exterior Pella
www.pella.com

Hardware
Locksets and door hardware:
www.rockymountainhardware.com
www.omniaindustries.com

Interior Pocket Doors: Johnson Hardware
www.johnsonhardware.com

Custom Stair Rails:
Marc Maiorana/Iron Design Company
www.irondesigncompany.com

Wood Stove:
Rais
www.rais.com

Grommets: Doug Mockett
www.mockett.com

Door stops:
Sugatsune
www.sugatsune.com

Interior Tree Grates:
Neenah Foundry
www.nfco.com

Cabinet hardware:
Blum
www.blum.com

Murphy Bed System:
Wall Bed Systems
www.wallbedsystems.com

Interior finishes
Cabinetwork and custom woodwork:
Unique concepts
www.uniqueconcepts.com

Siematic
www.siematic.com

Brookhaven
www.wood-mode.com

Custom cedar ceiling
L. E. Meyers
www.lemeyersbuilders.com

Paints and stains:
Sherwin Williams
www.sherwin-williams.com

Installed by Hansell Painting
www.hansellpaint.com/

Plastic laminate:
Wilsonart
www.wilsonart.com

Kitchen backsplashes: Eco-gres by Coverings etc.
www.coveringsetc.com

Entry hall and lower bath: Rex Ceramiche  Meteaux Roulle Rouge
www.rex-cerart.it

Master bathroom: Tau Ceramica Corten A.
www.tauceramica.com

Guest bathroom: Portobello Galleria D'arte Domenico Verde
www.portobello.br

Granite countertops:  Prescott Stone Fabricators
www.prescottstone.com

Pre fabricated Corian shower bases:
Kramer Fabrications
www.kramershowerbases.com

Resilient flooring:
Basement: Expanko XCR4
www.expanko.com

Carpet: Bolyu
www.bolyu.com

Wood flooring: Custom Quarter Sawn Cherry and Ash
Select Forest Products
www.selectforest.com

Furnishings
Chairs:  Dining chairs by Wilkhahn
www.wilkhahn.com
           
Living room Eames chair by Herman Miller
www.hermanmiller.com
                       
Living room Breuer Wassily Chair by Knoll
www.knoll.com

Library chairs by IKEA
www.ikea.com

Tables: Custom Breakfast Table by Seth Rolland (Port Townsend, WA)
 www.sethrolland.com
             
MO Kumi dining table

Library coffee table custom designed and built by Ellen Cassilly Architect
www.ellencassillyarchitect.com

Deck table by Butch Anthony
www.museumofwonder.com

Other furniture:
Living room couch: Montis
www.montis.nl

Vintage George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller
www.hermanmiller.com

Dresser by Blu Dot
www.bludot.com

Living room coffee table by Naos  
www.naos.net

Master bedroom set by: Lago
www.lago.it
      
Lighting
Interior ambient lighting:
Low voltage track lighting by Tech Lighting
www.techlighting.com

Dining Pendant:  Foscarini
www.foscarini.com

Kitchen and Living Room Pendants: Louis Poulsen
www.louispoulsen.com

Artist Studio Pendant:  Itre
www.leucosusa.com

Artist Studio Sconce:  Fontana Arte
www.fontanaarte.it

Library Pendant:  Flaver
www.flaver.it

Master Bath Ceiling Fixture:  Ron Rezek for Artemide
www.artimide.us

Master Bedroom and Living Room Uplights:         Visa
www.visalighting.com

Master Bedroom Table Lamps:  Foscarini
www.foscarini.com

Ceiling utility lighting:
Halo
www.cooperindustries.com

Exterior: Kim LED wall sconces
www.kimlighting.com

Controls: Lutron lighting controls and dimmers
www.lutron.com

Plumbing
Master tub by Agape
www.Agapedesign.it

Master sinks by Lacava
www.lacava.com

Dual Flush Toilets by Toto
www.totousa.com

Kitchen sinks by Franke
www.frankeuse.com

Faucets by Grohe, Danze, Jado, and Hansgrohe
www.grohe.com
www.danze.com
www.jado.com
www.hansgrohe.com

Lower bathroom sink by Kohler
www.kohler.com

Outdoor Shower by Pool Shower
www.poolshower.com

Solar Hot Water System by Southern Energy Management
www.southern-energy.com

Rainwater Collection Cistern by Green Horizon
www.greenhorizon.com