- Project: Gerendák
- Architect: Wittehaus
- Location: United States, Charlotte, NC
- Year: 2022
- Area: 497 m2
- Photography: Amanda Anderson
In Charlotte, North Carolina, the Gerendák Residence by Wittehaus redefines residential architecture with its bold cantilevers, treetop setting, and seamless integration of structure and lifestyle. Completed in 2022, this 5,354-square-foot home balances engineering innovation with refined design, offering stunning views over Lake Wylie.
A Home Born from Dialogue
Commissioned by a couple deeply immersed in Charlotte’s art scene, the project began with inspiration from Netflix’s The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes. Their vision: a house that combined soaring cantilevers, ground-level entry, and a life without stairs dictating mobility.
Over eight months, architect Toby Witte and the clients collaborated in detail—sketching, touring, and refining a design tailored to both site and lifestyle.
Cantilevered Design on a Cliff Platform
To achieve the dramatic cantilevers overlooking Lake Wylie, Wittehaus carved stone walls into the hillside, creating a platform that anchors the home. From one side, the house is entered at ground level; from the other, it projects boldly into open air.
The design divides into three primary volumes:
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Main living space for kitchen, dining, and lounging.
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Primary bedroom suite with privacy and expansive views.
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Studio office that frames both lake and forest.
Each volume enjoys views on three sides, ensuring openness while maintaining intimacy.
Music as the Heart of the Home
At the center is a music room designed around the couple’s baby grand piano. Surrounded by sliding panels and vertical metal-rod screens, this flexible space can be closed for practice or opened to fill the home with music. The floating staircase descends alongside it, engaging with this nucleus of sound and culture.
Structure and Tree House Concept
The residence is defined by exposed beams and posts that support a horizontal roof plane, floor, and terrace. With three glazed sides, the main living area dissolves boundaries between interior and forest. The vertical posts stylize surrounding trees, enhancing the sense of inhabiting a modern tree house.
“Exposing the structure provides such simplicity, clarity, and calmness—it’s just so peaceful in there,” notes architect Toby Witte.
Collaboration and Craft
The home’s richness stems from collaboration:
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Builder Buddy Edwards (Lynn Luxury Homes) refined methods and materials with the design team.
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Interior designer Geri Eaker (Freespace Design) curated finishes, built-ins, and furnishings, expanding on the architectural vision with tactile detail.
Together, they crafted a residence where every material and detail resonates with purpose.
Sustainability Measures
Sustainability was integral to the design:
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Narrow vertical posts double as louvers, shading interiors from harsh western sun.
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Light shelves extend shading while balancing proportions.
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Solar panels offset the home’s energy consumption.
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High-performance German windows and a tightly insulated envelope optimize efficiency.
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Preservation of the surrounding forest canopy maintains ecological balance.
The result is a home with an impressively low HERS Index rating, marrying luxury with environmental responsibility.
A Residence of Art, Music, and Nature
The Gerendák Residence is more than a house—it is a living sculpture. With cantilevers embracing the horizon, interiors designed around music, and sustainability embedded in every choice, Wittehaus created a landmark of modern residential architecture in North Carolina.
Drawings
