The clients sought a family forest retreat hidden in the forested hills of Northern California, where an extended community of family, friends and colleagues could gather. We wondered, What if the forest itself was the house?
The terrain that slopes gently towards the sea is typical of Cap Ferret: a small forest of strawberry tree, yucca and pines. The challenge was to design a modern holiday house that would exist in harmony with its surrounding landscape and have a limited impact on the existing vegetation.
Located on the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, this small dwelling provides the client with a retreat to call home, and an art studio in which to work.
Designed as a home and studio for a photographer and his young family, Lightbox House is located on a peninsula that extends south from British Columbia across the border to Point Roberts. The densely forested site lies beside a 180-acre park that overlooks the Strait of Georgia, the San Juan Islands and the Puget Sound.
Located in a land conservancy, Artist Retreat by GLUCK+ is a collection of wood-clad cubes orient toward a pond at the bottom of a sloped site. These eight forms touch the ground lightly and follow the topography of the land, linked by glass enclosed hallways. Their simple shapes are strong silhouettes in an agricultural landscape, organized in a shifting grid akin to agricultural plots in the area.
Val Des Monts Retreat is a tranquil forest retreat designed by Christopher Simmonds Architect, an architectural studio based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Located in Kerhonkson, NY, TinkerBox house was designed by New York-based Studio MM Architect. From the architect: Nestled in the woods of Hudson Valley, this house was conceived as a car-lover’s dream retreat. A generously sized garage is the locus of the design, generating space for car storage and maintenance as well as a spacious wine
Discover Mill Valley House in Marin County by Yamamar Design. This eco-friendly home features sustainable materials, optimized daylighting, and blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings, providing a serene and inspiring refuge.
