1635 Alpine Dr, Aiken, SC 29803

Advance planning-down to the last doorknob-not only eases building pains but allows time for material selection, a workable room arrange­ment, and low-maintenance design. If planning includes comfort and beauty as well as function, the results can be outstanding, as shown here. Living is easy with low-upkeep, nat­ural materials that minimize the need for paint and stain. There's more time or leisure-thanks to the no-mainte­nance ground cover and carefree stuc­co walls throughout. These broad areas of textured stucco are never monotonous. The structural frame­work provides striking contrast. Unusual shapes and forms await inside. First, broad steps lead to a re­cessed entry. This link divides the house into two basic parts. Left: a leisure-oriented living-dining area, ac­tivity space, and kitchen. Right: a shed-roof wing zoned for bedroom se­clusion. For street-side privacy, the front is almost windowless. By contrast, glass doors scoop light into the active living areas and open the deck across the back. Clerestory windows under the shed roof brighten private lofts in each bedroom (see dotted lines and ladders on plan). All through the living zone, open planning saves this family time, and unclogs traffic. Yet the informal kitch­en-family room is separated from living-dining area.