K l e i n   "T r e e"   H o u s e

exterior view                                                                                          living area


       "tree divot"/rainwater catch-basin                                                                         new entry path

This house, located on an 11 acre, heavily wooded site 15 miles north of San Francisco, is an attempt to enmesh a new building with a heavily forested site while creating minimal impact.  The 1,300 square foot building is carefully tucked in the trees and cantilevered off a very small foundation so as to disturb as few roots as possible.  From both the inside and the outside, the Tree House seemingly floats in the forest, and the extensive glazing allows an intimate relationship between the habitable spaces and the surrounding trees.

Through careful siting, only three small trees were removed from the densely wooded site.  These were in turn used as structural supports for the entry canopy, a projecting bay window and as treads of an outdoor stair.  A "tree divot" in the sunspace allowed a large oak limb to remain and in turn formed a water feature at the entry.  As in all our work, every attempt was made to use environmentally sensitive materials and finishes and to minimize wood use in the construction.    Not only that, but from permits to move-in, the house was built in three months.

Design by Karl Wanaselja and Sim van der Ryn
Construction by Leger Wanaselja Architecture