TREEHOUSE

Constructed on a very narrow lot, previously occupied by a small vacation cabin, this house is now the primary residence for clients that no longer wanted to maintain 2 properties.

The narrow lot left only one option to accommodate the list of program elements required in this residence. Rather than shy away from the prospect of a narrow 3 story tower, the dient embraced the potential tree-house views. The entire top level, situated in the surrounding tree canopy, is occupied by the owners suite and an office.

A limited number of mature hardwood trees were removed to allow for the construction of this new residence. Nearly all were salvaged, milled, and dried to be used in the various wood elements found in the interior of the home.

The decision to use a low-slope roof in combination with standing seam metal was driven by height limitations in the local codes. The quantity of hardscape elements, strictly limited by impervious surface regulations, are kept to a minimum in favor of the natural terrain.

Attention to section and plan were given equal weight in the design of this structure. The result is an arrangement of spaces needing almost no space for horizontal circulation, hallways, etc. The vertical aspect is accentuated by tall, narrow volumes and an exposed stairway that, while not for the faint of heart, offers visual porosity across the 3 above grade levels.