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The concrete-and-steel home by Faulkner Architects gives one family a refined escape in the mountains of Northern California.

Forest House

Lookout House

Viewfinder House

According to the firm, the key points of the design of the Pipa House are modularity, quality, sustainability, adaptability, and materiality.

The cabin thoughtfully blends aesthetics from Japanese design and Scandinavian minimalism.

Concrete stretches across the bathroom floor into the shower, where a floor-to-ceiling window frames the great outdoors. A simple palette of concrete, plywood, and keystone white mosaic tile gives the bathroom a clean look.

Down the hill from the main house, a tiny structure houses a sauna.

The sauna structure includes a small deck.

An outdoor cold shower is located on the deck adjacent to the sauna.

The sauna is framed by a large floor-to-ceiling window, so guests can enjoy views of the great outdoors.

Large wood beams frame the sauna’s deck and outdoor shower area.

The gable roof and L-shaped structure add a buffer against the sound of winds blowing at up to 45 miles per hour. “You don’t hear the outside,” says Ravi.

The siting of the home was intended to take advantage of the proximity to Lake Ontario, with windows aimed at the waterfront wherever possible.

The vestibule is the entry point, and it also separates the sleeping area of the house from the communal areas.

During storm season, nature’s awe-inspiring light show is on full display through the oversized windows.

Upper-level floor plan of Tree House by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects

Garden views can be enjoyed throughout the home—including in the bathroom.