TREE HOUSE #1
Completed Projects
Design Challenge:
The property is a heavily wooded hill side lot with protective tree clearing covenants. Designing a house which responded to this wooded setting with both the interior and exterior spaces was a project goal. A steep contour drop-off to the east needed to be accommodated. An open and interactive great room and a separate apartment above the garage were program requests. Also included were support spaces including a generous mud room, a recreation room and a workout space for an active and growing family.
Design Solution:
The design solution came about as an effort to insert the house into the trees so that it felt like it was literally a part of the surrounding woods interacting with the immediate environment on an hourly, daily and seasonal basis. The house is placed as a long massing element with minimal disruption to the topography or trees. From the living spaces within one looks out upon the surrounding trees and forest. A sense of refuge and enclosure from the summer canopy opens to prospect and views in the winter while autumn and summer present a canvas of undulating color. The main living spaces overlap each other in an open plan defined in part by level changes with a continuous wall of windows wrapping from living room, to dining room, to kitchen. The opposite side of the house close to an adjacent road required more internally focused functional spaces with smaller windows to maintain a sense of privacy. The interior palette provides warmth through natural materials and color, combined with clean modern elements and details. Family bedrooms occur at the upper level along with a guestroom at the lower level walkout.
