San Francisco-based TW Ryan Architecture has completed a family house that is pure and primitive in form and defined only by chimneys, walls and roofs in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The Three Chimney House sits on a large 45-acre site with a small pond and views westward towards the Shenandoah Mountains.

The property was originally part of a larger Homestead used in the Civil War as a hospital for wounded soldiers.

Designed for a family of four, the design of the home takes inspiration from traditional Southern colonial houses through its form and use of materials.

Brick, copper, stone, and wood are utilized throughout the structure and were selected for their historical use in the local area. Longevity and the ability for the materials to patina over time were crucial to their selection.

The defining feature of the home are its three chimneys, which stand 30 feet in height and help anchor key moments within the dwelling.

The central structure makes up the Entry Hall of the house and is accompanied by a library linked by a glass-walled gallery.

Next comes the Main Hall, which contains the kitchen, dining room, and living room, with each overlooking framed views of the Shenandoah Mountains.

The wood-clad Residential Wing is attached to the south side of the Main Hall via a hallway, creating a buffer between the main space and the more private areas of the home. To the north of the Main Hall are an art studio and guest house.

The three pitched roofs of the residence were inspired by Thomas Jefferson's Monticello nearby and are wrapped in natural copper, each formed with 18" wide sheets.

The top and bottom portion of each standing seam has been beaten down to create flat roof edge.

The home has a total square footage of roughly 5,800 sq ft. It began construction back in 2017 and was completed this year.

Via Sean Joyner - Archinect