Designed by Assembly Architecture & Build, Komorebi is a house shaped by its sensitive ecological context as much as by architectural intent. Set in the Bent Creek area southeast of Asheville, North Carolina, it is located along the edge of Pisgah National Forest. The site is bordered by two streams and abuts the Sandy Bottom Wetland Preserve, a fragile landscape stewarded through the University of North Carolina at Asheville’s Save Sandy Bottom initiative.
The wetland is a known habitat for endangered species, including the four-toed salamander and an endangered turtle, making low-impact construction not simply an aspiration but a baseline requirement. Against this backdrop, the project was conceived as a home that would integrate with, rather than dominate, its environment.
Building lightly on a fragile site
From the outset, the house was elevated on steel piers, a decision that reduced disturbance to stream buffers and wetland transitions while avoiding the heavier footprint of a conventional foundation. This lifted strategy allowed the building to sit lightly within a sensitive ecosystem and preserved the site’s hydrological relationships. The roof was shaped to follow the land’s natural watershed patterns, directing water toward existing streams rather than disrupting drainage through aggressive grading or recontouring.
Elevation also became a resilience strategy. By lifting the structure off grade, the design improves protection during high-water events; the house performed well during Hurricane Helene. At the same time, being separated from the ground helps mitigate moisture, mould, rot, pest intrusion, and radon off-gassing, which are common concerns for houses built directly on grade in damp environments. Here, resilience operates at the scale of site ecology, flood response, and interior health.
Orientation, passive design, and thermal performance
Every major decision in the project was rooted in climate-responsive design. Working with energy consultant Vandemusser early in the process, the team oriented the elongated floor plan along the east–west axis and positioned the house to face true south. This improves winter solar gain while enabling seasonal shading that helps limit overheating in summer. Careful siting reduced tree removal and elevated the screen porch above the stream, preserving vegetation and views.
The house’s low, sweeping roofline follows the slope of the hill, shedding water while visually aligning the building with the topography. Deep overhangs provide solar control, cooling the interior in warmer months while supporting heat retention in winter. Windows and doors are positioned to frame forest views and enable cross-ventilation, supporting passive heating and cooling rather than relying solely on mechanical systems.
Materials and systems as environmental choices
Komorebi’s material palette reflects a move away from conventional construction products in favour of assemblies with lower toxicity, stronger climatic fit, and reduced transport impacts. The exterior uses charred Hemlock siding finished through the Japanese shou sugi ban method, improving durability and moisture resistance in Asheville’s humid climate. R-ZIP insulated sheathing is placed outside the structural studs to reduce thermal bridging and maintain a continuous thermal envelope. In the wall cavities, the project uses locally sourced wool and TimberBat, a shredded bark insulation, both breathable and low-VOC alternatives to standard products. Local timber was prioritised for framing: Southern Yellow Pine sourced from Georgia and South Carolina replaced imported spruce-pine-fir, reducing transport emissions while supporting regional forestry.
These choices are complemented by efficient operational systems, including a 12.75 kW solar array of 30 panels, Tesla Powerwalls, an integrated EV charger, a heat pump, HRV, smart fans, and smart panels that allow the homeowner to manage hot water, lighting, and energy loads. Together, these strategies helped the house achieve a HERS score of -25, indicating a high level of energy performance.
