American Colonial
This 10,000 s.f. residence in the historic Belle Meade neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee invokes the concept of vernacular progression, the manner in which houses grow and evolve over time. Disparate parts of the dwelling resemble a vernacular Tennessee fieldstone barn, a Georgian house, a Federal wing, and a Colonial Revival addition. Thanks to Tate’s attention to period-appropriate materials and craftsmanship, these attached structures appear to have been built over two centuries. This approach made it possible to design a large house accommodating the owners’ modern needs, while also complementing the style and scale of the surrounding Colonial Revival dwellings. Although the house is significantly larger than those nearby, the manner in which Tate divided the mass into smaller parts diminishes its appearance of size.