Description
Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater home loosely inspired the vacation home. The design of that home was “architecture growing out of the landscape”. Like Wright’s design, I designed this home with many intersecting lines and forms. I also introduced some cantilevered construction and ample windows. The fireplace can also be seen intersecting the entire structure, acting as a visual anchor while adding strength and wind deflection for occupants below.
All three bedrooms have a view. The upper level (shared space) has the best view. The patios offer unobstructed sky views for those who enjoy stargazing with a telescope at night.
The quiet study is on the opposite end of the busy part of the house (away from the kitchen, main deck). It’s tucked into the side of the hill with acoustics in mind. The room houses a sofa that converts to a bed.
The Project was angled about 30 degrees. The building faces in a North-Eastern direction. In Tahoe, prevailing winds come from the Southwest (WRCC.dri.edu). I imagine this home being situated on the Westside of Lake Tahoe, overlooking the lake. The storage space and surrounding trees shield the rear of the house (on the non-lake side). This will reduce wind exposure and snow accumulation. A carport was used instead of a complete garage. The carport is situated between the main house and the storage area. As the owners and guests drive into the carport, the view is “framed” as they look out the front of the car. The surrounding trees and large windows of the structure make the occupants feel as if they’re nestled among the trees themselves.
The overall roofs are flatter than typical snow roofs. The slope is intentional and remains consistent with the Wright design inspiration. The roof does slope slightly, and more structural and heating considerations must be taken into account. Future proposals may include a more traditional flat roof with scuppers or additional roof strength to accommodate snow loads. Although many homes do have angled roofs in snowy climates, a properly designed and modern flat roof can be equipped to handle snow loads, moisture, and add thermal loss protection when snow accumulates (added insulation from the snow). The angle of the roof also allows for a larger grand view when standing in the living room. Similarly, when viewing the home from outside(the viewpoint shown), the house appears to be more grand because of forced perspective (the building appears larger upfront and tapers in the distance.
As an added note, there’s support under the deck for high loads and the upper level is an open floor plan.