In Situ Studio's Merkel Cooper Residence overlooks North Carolina lake

Concrete block and fibre-cement boards are among the materials used by American firm In Situ Studio to create this hillside home for a retired couple living in North Carolina.The Merkel Cooper Residence is located in the small town of Troutman, which is about 35 miles (56 kilometres) north of the state's major city Charlotte.Designed for a retired couple, the home is nestled into a sloped, wooded site overlooking Lake Norman. Capitalising on the scenic terrain was a guiding concern for