Lake Tahoe House by WA Design Inc in Nevada, USA

Project: Lake Tahoe House Architects: WA Design IncLocation: Lake Tahoe, Nevada, United StatesSquare footage: 4,960 sq ft
Photos: Provided by WA Design Inc

Lake Tahoe House by WA Design Inc

WA Design Inc designed a Lake Tahoe house — an exquisite mountain home located on a large lot in the Tahoe area. It offers nearly 5,000 square feet of luxurious living space and priceless views in all directions.

The Lake Tahoe house is located on one of the last large lots in the Tahoe area. Eight acres of land with dense stands of white and red fir rise to a rocky ridge that serves as the backdrop for this exceptional place. This was our second house project for these clients; the first was the Stratmore House, also featured in this book. A standard period of acquaintance had already been established for the Lake Tahoe house. Our architectural preferences and goals aligned from the start to create a modern building deeply rooted in the Tahoe region and on this magnificent site.

The inspiration for designing this house came from wooden mining and mill structures in the Tahoe area. Much earlier, before Tahoe became a ski resort, it was a gold rush destination. Large mills were used to crush hard rock into dust from which gold could be extracted. All material movement inside the mills was powered by gravity, so such buildings typically have a distinctive vertical profile.

Significant mountain panoramas were a key factor in the design. It was necessary to frame views of Nevada mountains to the north and Tinkers' Nog and Sierra Crest to the south. These requirements led to a layout extending along two orthogonal axes, rising vertically to the north where the office and bedroom are located. The sense of flow along the axes is enhanced by a clear rhythm created by 10-inch x 10-inch Douglas fir posts, which connect to the roof structure above.

A mixed finish of Western Red Cedar and Galvalume metal stucco, applied as a dense shell, further emphasizes the vintage mining architecture. Inside the house, large reclaimed logs and heavy-duty metal brackets reinforce the industrial aesthetic and resist significant snow loads in winter. Large blocks of Sierra white granite are cut and shaped to form hearths. The building clearly roots itself in the mountain environment. A large male brown bear has lived in the boulders above the house for years and still shows no fear of recent construction, often calmly walking across the new access road.

– WA Design Inc