North Hills Residence
Pittsburgh, PA

Size: 6,700 square feet

Services: Architecture

Located in the North Hills area of Pittsburgh, this new house was inserted into a wooded lot with minimum tree removal and minimum landscaping. The young retirees wanted an informal home focused on the kitchen for daily activities and entertaining.

The house is set on a wooded, sloping site in a suburban subdivision. The structure was held back as far as possible from the street without jeopardizing mature trees, thereby preserving much of the forest and providing a natural buffer between house and street.  Privacy and connection to the outdoors were fundamental design objectives.

The Shingle Style of the house meshes well with its forested site and allows the use of a limited palette of natural materials, which were chosen to blend into the surroundings. Simple straightforward detailing and casework are used throughout the house.