Martis Camp Residence
An elegant vessel for shared experiences, Martis Camp Residence is a permeable shelter that frames the sweeping wilderness – a reductive sanctuary in ongoing dialogue with nature.
Resting gently amid the picturesque hinterlands of Truckee, California, a pared-back home becomes a place of solace, shaped by the joys of escapism and personal connection. Towering pine trees stretch ever higher, imbuing the site with ethereal, dappled daylight – an expression of this always-changing place. In a harmonious dance with the encircling landscape that defines this locale, containment falls by the wayside in favour of a relationship with nature.
Devised as a family getaway, Martis Camp Residence by Dumican Mosey Architects takes cues from 20th-century modernist designs in celebration of a simple lifestyle. “The clients wanted a vacation home in the mountains to spend more time in the outdoors – for themselves, their children, extended family and friends,” explains lead designer and founding partner Eric Dumican. “They sought a ‘cool and liveable house’ with a balanced approach to privacy and outlook.”
Borne of a longstanding friendship – having previously designed the client’s primary dwelling – the process was underpinned by mutual trust and understanding. Positioned on an expansive, almost half-a-hectare site, the architecture traverses a gentle downslope to harness curated and peaceful vignettes of the natural realm beyond: open forest to the north, the Pacific Crest Trail to the west and distant ranges to the east.
The dwelling presents as a rhythmic array of shiplap boards and full-height apertures, softened by durable rooftop vegetation.
Reminiscent of The Glass House by Philip Johnson, the idea of a reductive silhouette resides within the shadows of this wooded parcel, a chameleon of sorts that is both permeable and reflective. “The surrounding context was the primary influence for the design response – a stretched-out linear plan connected by glass hallways that dissolves any sense of enclosure,” explains Dumican. Set atop a concrete plinth, Martis Camp Residence hugs the land’s undulating contours to quietly navigate granite deposits and mature native trees. Unassuming views are revealed as one meanders from space to space, creating a continuous dialogue between solidity and openness. Sculptural planes and dry-stacked stone serve as markers for exterior occupation akin to the remnants of an historic settlement. “The residence is well integrated with the topography, such that it feels as if it has been there for a lifetime.”
Approaching via a rural cul-de-sac, the dwelling presents as a rhythmic array of shiplap boards and full-height apertures, softened by durable rooftop vegetation, while a protective loggia graciously guides the arrivals sequence. “A transparent entry experience is revealed with visual connection through to an exterior zen-like court, carved out of the footprint of the house and open to the sky.”
Terraces flank the edges of Martis Camp Residence in response to the variable weather that descends upon this elevated site, shielded by monolithic off-form concrete walls for added protection and privacy. “One of the greatest challenges was organising the rooms in a manner that would take full advantage of the numerous views and natural amenities throughout, across and beyond the immediate site.” Strengthening this resolve, diffused light permeates from all directions into the heart of the plan to heighten the sense of the boundless wilderness.
A subdued sensation of warmth is a recurring thread that weaves throughout the abode, along with the simplicity of organic oak, slip-matched veneers and Chantilly white surfaces. Floor-to-ceiling open shelving lines the upstairs bedroom wing in a nod to mid-century ideals, while a soaring kitchen island marks the epicentre of the ground floor. Here, Dekton by Cosentino surfaces and a Boffi kitchen system underscore the craftsmanship shaping this central space. “This communal great room transforms to become an open-air pavilion in the summer and a glass-enclosed outdoor room in the winter.”
This is a project that operates at every scale, from the macro context of this rugged outcrop to the tactile details that meet human hands.
Furniture is low and minimalist to not distract from the slender window frames that bring skyward vistas into focus. This is a project that operates at every scale, from the macro context of this rugged outcrop to the tactile details that meet human hands. “In contrast to the texture and patina of the dark exterior, the inside employs a lighter-toned palette that works together to feel friendly, open and airy.”
Detailing is restrained and precisely tuned to exacting dimensions. Horizontal planes float uninterrupted overhead in a singular gesture that stretches the length of Martis Camp Residence. Walls share a similar language in discreet recessed shadow lines that distinguish one surface from the next.
Recalling Johnson’s work on The Glass Pavilion, slender structural elements occupy the volume as a distilled expression of the home’s construction – thoughtfully placed metal stems that mirror their living counterparts. Crafted timber lays restfully atop a soothing cement base, softened once more by the ephemeral flutter of green foliage. “In contrast to the texture and patina of the dark exterior, the inside employs a lighter-toned palette that works together to feel friendly, open and airy.”
Designed to withstand fluctuating temperatures, snow load and wildfires, the external shell comprises robust materials for endurance. Rocky mounds rise from the terrain to cradle the dwelling as an extension of the original site, interspersed by resilient planting that blurs the threshold between built and organic. “The landscape focuses on a concerted effort to minimally impact the existing surrounds. New interventions fill in areas that were impacted by the construction of the house in a manner that is consistent with, and complementary to, the native flora.” Embodying an ethos to sit lightly on the land, this place finds equilibrium between infinitude and introspection.
Martis Camp Residence is an intimate retreat that moves with the shifting seasons. Outstretched and markedly honest, glass openings punctuate the charred facade for glimpses of the far horizon. This is a contextually sensitive holiday home shaped by the geography of this special place in pursuit of solitude and a deep respect for nature.
