An Architects Own Home Designed as a Tree House That Disappears Into the Landscape

Designed as a treehouse and nestled within the landscape of California's Martis Valley—situated at an impressive distance from Lake Tahoe—Analog House, co-designed by Olson Kundig and Faulkner Architects, creates a continuous echo around its high-altitude surroundings, becoming part of the forest backdrop through its dialogue-based design. Located in a dense forest, the architecture is considered environmentally friendly. The exterior glass windows and rain shields are made of recycled steel, and the wooden frame utilizes rivets, beams, and rafters made from salvaged wood. The steel shell of the structure also requires no maintenance and is fire-resistant. Thus, the architects not only created a house that blends seamlessly into its surroundings but also one that is highly responsive to and considerate of the environment.
As seen during the house tour, there is a harmony in the house's design; it offers a seamless transition from room to room, showcasing transformative spaces both inside and out. Designed as a treehouse, the highlight of the house is the steel tower – a three-story structure rising from the main block. Designed as a guest area, it includes bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a terrace with panoramic views. The main block of the house is the kitchen and utility areas, with movable glass doors opening onto the outdoors and allowing plenty of fresh air to flow into the living space. From here, the tour of the house leads to a concrete pavilion, which houses the living room and, further on, the master bedroom and study.
Enhancing the house's transformative potential is the consistent choice of materials. The design team drew inspiration from the landscape, weaving the structure around existing pine trees and utilizing the voids to create habitable spaces. The result is a series of perpendicular concrete, steel, and glass blocks capable of capturing panoramic views from every angle and blurring the boundaries between home and nature. Moments of interaction also appear throughout the residence. For example, a custom fireplace between the kitchen and patio can be transformed into an Argentinian-style grill using a hand-crank mechanism. Providing a seamless connection to its surroundings, Olson Kundig and Faulkner Architects' Analog House is designed as a treehouse that serves as nature's closest neighbor.