Idealistic Living – Forest House by Faulkner Architects

Tucked into its alpine environment, Forest House by Faulkner Architects is surrounded by thick Pine trees, Fir trees and basalt rock. Located in Truckee, Lake Tahoe, the residence is inspired by cabin living and offers an idyllic place for living and entertaining.

Nestled into the thick of the woods, Forest House is a home that respects its natural environment. Passionate about saving and protecting the landscape, Faulkner Architects designed the house to respect the natural site on which it is positioned. Working with a simple brief, delivered by clients with an open mindset, Faulkner Architects creates a cabin-like home that does not fall to the arbitrary aesthetics of larger residences. Pushing the form to the southern end of the property, Faulkner Architects leaves the front area of land largely untouched, saving 95 per cent of the trees in order to respect the surrounds.

Due to the nature-rich setting, Faulkner Architects has designed a home that remains neutral and respective in form and size by allowing the landscape to breathe and embrace it.

Due to the nature-rich setting, Faulkner Architects has designed a home that remains neutral and respective in form and size by allowing the landscape to breathe and embrace it. With the residence’s concealed entrance on approach, the architects have delivered a sequence of arrival points. As one moves parallel to the form, they are encouraged to interact with it. Inside, the front entryway opens into the living, dining and kitchen areas – which can be partitioned off from one another. Focused on the idea that the dining experience should be special, Faulkner Architects installed folding doors that allow the public areas to be sectioned into singular rooms, creating more intimate experiences. Tucked behind the kitchen, a small family room and hidden office allows for a further separation of spaces in which the clients can find a place to work, study and rest. Additionally, the master suite has been separated from the three guest rooms positioned upstairs to further deepen the idea that each room can be made private when needed.

Conducting an atmospheric exercise with form and light, the architects began the process of designing by looking to the sun and taking influence from it. As such, the home is positioned upon an elongated rectangle that stretches along the east-west axis and faces south to maximise the amount of sun exposure. Employing skylights that wrap down the façade and onto the face of the home, natural light is encouraged to penetrate deep into the home. Furthermore, the skylights break down the home’s box form and allow the eyes to move vertically to the sky. Splashing the home with sunlight during the day, the skylights also give advantageous views of the night sky when stars twinkle overhead. Deepening the connection to nature, the doors off the living spaces open to allow for flow of movement, with the sounds and scents of nature wafting through and enhancing the lived experience.

Passionate about saving and protecting the landscape, Faulkner Architects designed the house to respect the natural site on which it is positioned.

With a focus on sustainability, Forest House is built with non-flammable materials and a palette of concrete and steel underpins the house. On the ground floor, a concrete base is used for the public areas of the house and steel is arranged to reflect the texture of bark. Seen most evidently on the exterior design, the black steel recedes like the surrounding trunks, whilst the light concrete stands out in the sunlight and the glass façade reflects the surrounding forestry. Through this considered approach, Forest House exemplifies how a home can be built in appreciation and reference to the landscape on which it sits.