In Memphis, integrating a house with the landscape usually means
giving it a screened porch, a view from the main seating area, or maybe
a deck around a pool. The temperature extremes are too great here for
much more indoor-outdoor connection. It’s only in tropical or
subtropical climes that the house can truly be open to the
landscape.
The best option around here may be to bring the landscape inside.
This house, designed by architect Robert Brown in 1974, uses an atrium
as the interior organizing element. Guests arrive in this green space
and occupants pass through it frequently as they move around the house.
The exterior stained siding is used on its walls, helping to dissolve
the boundary between inside and out. Four large ficus trees with an
under-story of tropical vines and a tumbling stream animate this area.
You expect to hear bird sounds in this delightful
interior court.
The dining room, living room, and den all open up to
the atrium. The entry’s brick flooring steps up around the central
green space and flows into these rooms, as well. Both the living room
and the den have vaulted ceilings.
The large galley kitchen, with its all-white cabinets and counters,
has a long horizontal window set between the counter and the upper
cabinets to bring the inside out. Just beyond is a well-equipped spa
with a hot tub beneath a large skylight, along with a sauna and a full
bath — all adjacent to the rear pool and deck.
The bedrooms are on the other side of the atrium. The master bedroom
is on the main level. Its bath has floors and countertops of Calcutta
Gold marble. A spiral stair in the master leads up to a dressing
room and a private office, which has a narrow, horizontal
slit opening with a view into the atrium. The four additional
bedrooms are stacked two over two, and these are entered from the
atrium as well.
All of the common rooms share views out to the rear yard. A pool is
tucked into one corner. a two-level entertaining area tiers
down from the house to the pool. The landscape views from every room
are well framed, but it is the two-story atrium that gives this house
the feel of living outdoors in tropical splendor.
10 Goodway Lane, 38117
Approximately 4,800 square feet
5 bedrooms, 4 baths; $525,000
Realtor: Hobson Realtors, 761-1622
Agent: Laurie Stark, 486-1464
