Mork Ulnes Architects

Troll Hus

Troll Hus
© Bruce Damonte Photography Inc

Troll Hus

Mork Ulnes Architects

SIZE
3000 Sqft - 5000 Sqft

STATUS
Built

PHOTOS
Bruce Damonte Photography Inc 

YEAR
2015

LOCATION
Placer County, CA, United States

TYPE
Residential › Private House

The essential diagram is straightforward: take the alpine chalet building type and lift it onto a concrete plinth to protect it from the snow.

Troll Hus
© Bruce Damonte Photography Inc
Troll Hus
© Bruce Damonte Photography Inc

Located at an elevation of 6,800 feet, the building needs to withstand extreme snowfall that can exceed 800 inches.

The residence's positioning on-site, however, is more nuanced. Influenced by prevailing wind-drift direction and other climatic factors, the orientation shields the building from the street and directs views to a private stream and forest beyond.

Troll Hus
© Bruce Damonte Photography Inc
Troll Hus
© Bruce Damonte Photography Inc

Living spaces are arranged along the open, south-facing facade to maximize solar exposure.

The shaded northern face contains utility rooms where small punched windows draw in indirect northern light but minimize heat loss.

Troll Hus
© Bruce Damonte Photography Inc
Troll Hus
© Bruce Damonte Photography Inc

Tar-treated wood siding recedes among the tree trunks of this wooded site, and at dusk the interior finished with minimally treated fir glows warm through the windows.


Troll Hus
© Bruce Damonte Photography Inc
Troll Hus
© Bruce Damonte Photography Inc


Troll Hus
Troll Hus
Troll Hus

Mork Ulnes Architects
T +1 415 2821437
Mork Ulnes Architects
1045 Sansome St #402, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States