Featured Project

Lake Arrowhead Residence
Waleska, Georgia

A boutique design firm with incomparable expertise in the design of unique and efficient residential spaces, JPA triumphed in its execution of the Lake Arrowhead Residence project in north Georgia.

Lake Arrowhead was envisioned as a second home, “Southern Modern” lake house retreat in a community that valued traditional homes and continued sustainability. JPA immediately began brainstorming design solutions that would complement the natural landscape and respect the environment through systems that merely sipped energy where others greedily gulped.

The neighborhood review process was more involved than any JPA had ever seen, but the firm worked closely with the community to blend the mandate for a simple southern vernacular front exterior with modern details and amenities. Additionally, the steep lot required extensive site problem-solving and integrated landscape solutions for water management. JPA proposed traditional house forms with modern twists to satisfy both the owner and the neighborhood. The firm collaborated with a landscape designer to use boulder walls, weirs, and bio swales to combine water management with the hardscape paths to the lake. The resulting experience leaves guests walking alongside a relaxing water feature while walking over one. The creative solution is particularly impressive during summer rain storms.

The home’s design pulls inspiration from the rural north Georgia landscape and connects to the earth in a significant way. JPA implemented a side porch on the south side of the home to provide usable outdoor space in three seasons. The adjacent porch and large overhangs minimize visual clutter of the structure while protecting the exterior and reducing the need for maintenance. Large expanses of glass invite nature into the home where exposed timber rafters give a rustic detail to the simple design.

Energy efficient features include an exterior layer of insulation, wall sheathing with insulation and a vapor barrier to minimize air infiltration, super-insulated walls and roof, high-efficiency glazing and a highly-efficient HVAC system. The weekend home’s energy bills are less than a quarter of the homeowner’s primary residence, and the project received a Marvin Window Red Diamond national award in 2014. The retreat is now the owner’s favorite place.

The Lake Arrowhead Residence is a design triumph, blending high performance with sleek modern details on a steeply sloping lot in a very traditional rural community. Its development was a true blend of design, collaboration and building science for superior results.