Design Objectives

Many mountaintop developments in the Southeast are modeled on suburban developments, where the vast majority of the land is carved into lots and, at most, a clubhouse or swimming pool may be available for residents, In contrast, Overton Retreat was carefully designed to foster a strong community atmosphere where members can engage in a variety of activities. To that end, Overton Retreat includes large interior parks with ample space for ballgames and other family activities. Hiking trails around the lakes and throughout Overton Retreat encourage interaction between all members of the community. For community social activities, the main gathering spaces are the Pavilion on the north side of one of the lakes and the Barn on the west end of the other lake.

The Architectural Guidelines for Overton Retreat incorporate several historic rustic styles: Adirondack, Rural Gothic, and rural Tennessee vernacular. However, the Guidelines permit members of Overton Retreat and their designers to reinterpret these historic styles and the Guidelines also encourage the use of modern forms within this historic context. For the Pavilion site, there were several design objectives: (1) to create a community gathering space that could comfortably be used by small and large groups in a number of different ways; (2) to show that that the historic architectural styles referenced in the Architectural Guidelines could be reinterpreted in very modern forms (i.e., that innovative designs are both permitted and encouraged under the Guidelines); and (3) to create a unique, integrated, artistic design for the site and its structures that would be visually exciting and would be immediately recognized as the signature design for Overton Retreat.

The Pavilion site plan and the structures within the site were designed with each of these criteria in mind. The pavilion site is laid out in a circle, representing and encouraging a sense of community for Overton Retreat. The site includes features symbolizing all of the traditional natural elements: earth, water, fire and air. All of the structures in the site are built with natural materials: wood, stone and metal. The circular site embraces the 24-acre spring-fed lake and is located at the center of the lake’s North shoreline. All of the land surrounding the pavilion has been permanently preserved as common area to prevent any other structure from competing visually with the pavilion, and to provide hiking trails and additional recreational space for members of the Overton Retreat community.