Perched along the hillside of a sprawling valley, sits a black boulder rising from the snowscape of Lake Tahoe’s natural forest. Monolithic and understated, this residence is designed to be an integrated and organic addition to its environment. Clad in Shou Sugi Ban, the charred exterior acts as both a sustainable solution to the raw elements and a renewable material that stands the test of time.
In sharp contrast to the dark outer shell, the home exudes a warm glow that is reflected in the light oak hues of the interior palette. This sense of warmth and welcome has been embedded into the floor plans as well, with communal spaces on every floor of the property. The third floor features mirrored living spaces delineated by a thin wall of glass between the interior and exterior. From the powerful, patagonia granite featured in the kitchen to the charred cedar siding, this residence is designed to be an embedded fragment of the mountain on which it rests.
Status: Unbuilt
Location: Squaw Valley, CA, US
Firm Role: Architect
Additional Credits: Interiors: HSH Interiors
Development: Iconoclast Development
Engineering: Riverstone Structural Concepts
Visualization: Negar Zahiri