To make the two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath dwelling look and feel as large as possible, Sundius and Ichiki maintained sightlines from one end to the other. "We didn’t want to disrupt the flow of the stepped ceiling as it runs the length of the building,
In 2014, Jeff and Karen Gunning began researching building another house, hoping to create a single, contained volume without compromising their retirement funds. The resulting Tree House comprises three pitched volumes with cutaways to create a porch in phase one and recessed window planter ledges in phase two. Simple wood columns provide support.
The west-facing outdoor patio is protected by deep roof overhangs lined with southern yellow pine.
Canopy House exploded axon
For sustainability, the Canopy House features a steel structure system and extensive masonry finishes to ensure durability and low maintenance needs. Likewise, the landscaping features xeriscaping and native plants.
Walls of glass blur the boundary between indoors and out in this bathroom. The floors are Jerusalem Bone limestone.
"The canopy structure was carefully edited down to only its essential parts," explain the architects. "Every component was designed so that each member is purposeful and is exactly the size and shape it needs to be and no more. The fabrication and assembly process was fully considered to allow for straightforward construction."
Ipe decking connects the main house to the rear guest suite/pool house and pool, which were strategically placed to take advantage of natural shade conditions.
Folding glazed doors open up to seamlessly connect the open-plan kitchen and dining room to the courtyard. The kitchen is dressed with Sapele Mahogany cabinetry, Caesarstone Stratuario Maximus countertops, and rift-sawn white oak flooring.
The homeowners took advantage of virtual reality technology for selecting and placing their furniture, including the pictured Reid section from DWR and Black Marble Saarinen dining table with Cora custom side chairs from Room and Board.
Walls of glass promote constant connection with the outdoors. The chairs that flank the double-sided fireplace are Kenmare armchairs by Modloft.
The view from outside the entrance gate, which was constructed from steel with welded wire infill. The entry path was made of Leuders limestone, the same material used on the outdoor patios and fireplace.
In response to a geotechnical report that revealed poor soils, the architects deepened the piers to support a structure slab that floats eight inches above grade. The unusual foundation design allows the elevated home to sit very close to the trees without negatively impacting the root systems.
Located in the heart of the city, the property "provided the best of both worlds," explain the couple, who were drawn to its location and its many mature trees that created the feeling of being immersed in nature.
The architects created a simple, shed-like refuge so as to not detract from the surrounding environment.
An aerial view of the Vinoly home.
An aerial view of both houses and all the land.
The roof boasts an observation deck with 360-degree views towards the Hudson River.
The penthouse office has an open workspace with a diagonally-laid teak floor, built-in metal mesh shelving, and a built-in blackened-steel credenza that wraps the edge of the room. There are also cantilevered floating steps which lead to the rooftop observation deck.
The master bedroom is privately located off the main house in a rectangular tower towards the back of the home. The master is complete with custom touches like distressed blackened steel steps that lead down to a private basement garage, as well as cantilevered steps up to a penthouse office.
There is even an exercise studio that would make any minimalist happy.
The living space is anchored by an oversized, sculptural fireplace made from blackened steel by David Edelman. The design incorporates graduated rectangular tiers and is flanked by matching sound speakers.
There are two heated swimming pools: inside and out. The present owner completely refurbished both pools and updated the glass which covers the perimeter, helping to bring the home to "even better than original" condition.
The International-style home features custom metal and woodwork, unique skylights, and glass canopies. The rectangular tower houses the master bedroom, a private penthouse study, and a rooftop observatory.
The Szabo Ranch home is full steam ahead in construction. Lower floor exposed concrete is now poured and steel is being placed to support upper floor and cantilevered deck. One will soon be able to stand on upper floor and see those beautiful mountains we call the Sutter Buttes.
3D Model
Exterior view with designer and builder ... before the house was 100% completed
Horizon Neighborhood cluster plan
"It is a tremendous challenge to build 9,000 feet from the ground, and the site typically receives more than 500 inches of snowfall per year," says architect Brian MacKay-Lyons. "There were no roads or services, and we needed to minimize the amount of concrete used in this project due to the high cost of pouring concrete on a mountaintop."
The guest rooms were all built from Western red cedar, which was sourced from the family's plantation.
Each of Punta Caliza’s 12 rooms are connected to a private pool.
"We used a simple material palette—western red cedar, blackened steel, and glass—which helps create a timeless design," architect John Lum says.
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