Long Branch Cabin | Long Branch Residential Preserve, Georgia

Hefferlin Kronenberg Architects designed a weekend mountain retreat located on a 400 acre preserve where 300 acres are a permanent conservation easement.  The house is designed to capture the beauty of the environment while being as contextual and sustainable as possible.

This residence is located on Long Branch Residential Preserve in the mountains of Northeast Georgia.  The development is part of a permanent conservation easement and is dedicated to preserving the land and the earth as a whole.  The Long Branch residence had many sustainable design features.  The flooring and lap siding is from FSC certified forests.  The railings are fashioned from local Mountain Laurel that was cut to build the roads.  The house is situated to take advantage of the natural wind patterns and can be cooled through opening the plentiful windows.  Many products were locally grown and manufactured such as the heavy timber frame and the poplar bark siding.

The house sits on the edge of a slope overlooking a lake. The design is based on a traditional plan with a central stair, the master on the ground floor, and two guest bedrooms above. Traditional elements, such as screened sleeping porches and a mud room give the home a subtle traditional feel with a modern twist. The main feature of the home is the big central gable on axis with the approach and the lake. The detached carport can double as a play area or picnic pavilion to give the client a valuable outdoor flex space.