Wooded View & Greenhouse

As you drive up a winding gravel road to the top of the hill, this home emerges from the landscape at the top of the pasture, embraced by trees and some tall grasses. The feeling of a remote country setting belies the fact that you are just a few miles from the IU campus. This farmland has been in the family and is now the homestead for our clients. 

At the early start of spring in 2020, we were invited to visit this beautiful family land on the outskirts of Bloomington. We felt an immediate connection to the clients and the land. It was a wonderful experience working with these folks to place and design a home that maximized views of campus off in the distance while preserving the rural appeal of the site. 

One of the pair is a retired Biology Professor and had a very specific vision for the house. He wanted a greenhouse integrated into the home and to serve as one of the main focal points both from the inside and the outside of the home. When approaching the front entry, your eyes are drawn toward a wall of windows that break up the horizontal, prairie-style, roof line. These become the main source of natural light for the 2 story greenhouse. This space will house plants and flowers that our clients have collected and grown over the years and will nurture them for years to come. 

Another driver for the home was a screen porch, deck, and rooftop patio from which to watch the stars on clear nights and also to capture the views of the main Library at the IU campus during the day.

There are many other features that we are proud of on the interior of the home, including a beautiful open kitchen and living space, along with a primary bedroom on the main floor, all with access to the back deck and incredible views. We roughed in an elevator shaft, in case one were ever needed, and also have ample overflow space, a wood shop, and a large garage, as one of our clients is an avid woodworker and vehicle restorer.

Photos by: Nolan Calisch