stal tre hus ~ steel tree house

a couple of years ago in lake tahoe, california, joel sherman of jls design set out to prove it is possible to create modern design that fits into the landscape in that high-end residential market. veering completely from the usual "bear-moose-fish-motif" found in the tahoe mountain setting, joel sherman's decidedly contemporary design lifts the house up into the canopy of surrounding trees. the narrow lot drops away substantially at one end so sherman used this to a great design advantage by creating a plan where vertical plaster towers step down in to the lot supporting the bulk of the residence and elevating it to a treehouse effect.

the largest portion of the 2,500-square-foot residence, the garage, is subtly designed into the program of the house and hidden behind opaque shoji-like doors. at the same level as the garage, a wooden plank leads to the residence's main entrance. once inside, access is available to the lofted master bedroom, master bath, the private porch, as well as the garage. a glass-and-steel enclosed stairwell leads to the level below which houses two bedrooms, a living room, and kitchen and dining area.

the design shows an excellent fusion of indoor and outdoor spaces. from the tasmanian red oak floors to the cherry wood cabinetry to the panels of redwood juxtaposed against the plaster towers on the house’s exterior, the natural woodland theme is reflected continuously. another means of merging interior and exterior spaces is the use of transparency. not only did joel sherman use large panels of glazing and glass-wrapped corners, but he also designed the interior spaces so that the residents would have access to outdoor views from a variety of locations, not just from rooms on the house's perimeter.

another fascinating aspect of stal tre hus is the fact that it's the result of the combined efforts of architect and client. the architect successfully brought a modern design sensibility to the area, while the client, an owner of a wood construction company, actively participated in the building of his dream house. wanting to be as much a part of the construction as possible, the client became certified in welding and personally welded every piece of steel throughout his new home. i really appreciate a symbiotic process like this, and would love to see this house in person some day.

{photos and info from jls design & architectural record}