A house is a shelter that brings protection and intimacy. These functions might be considered to be more than physical. Ancient Greek houses often had the lintel scripted "Know Thyself". Those houses had elements intended to bring man closer to an inner life necessary to know thyself. Such elements were related in their social, political and religious aspects. Roman houses changed the internal ritual, but kept primordial elements related to individual physical and spiritual development. In these traditions there are principles that are adaptable to contemporary living. The country house is in part a proposition to understand these principles and brings them into a new architectural language. This thesis is a borrowing of traditions while "grounding" them to a particular place. This house stands on a site in Blacksburg. It is oriented according to the sun path and the views from this site that provide the grounding. / Master of Architecture