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Thatch Roofing Today

December 6, 2019 by Brian Reeves Leave a Comment

Thatch roofing could be the next big thing.  It’s been popular in Europe and Asia for a long time, but it might be on the “eave” of a new era in North America. Thatch is seen as time tested, sustainable, durable, and of course full of charm and character. Given this outlook, it has peaked the interest of both traditionalists and modernists alike. More and more people are asking for thatched roofs.

Seaside cottage with thatch roofing in Cadgwith

Thatched cottage by the sea in Cadgwith, England

Thatching is having a revival because it’s known as environmentally friendly with natural materials.  Thatchers today are working with developers and architects to make it the preferred roof of the future.  Today’s thatched roof offers limitless possibilities.  A 50 year lifespan rivals any of today’s high quality roofing.

Thatch roof cottage on the lake

A potential lake cottage with a thatched roof on Priest Lake in Idaho.

The thatching trade’s biggest ally is known as The International Thatching Society.  They represent groups in Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Holland.  Japan has numerous thatched buildings with roughly 100,000 properties and a workforce of 300 thatchers to maintain and renew this cultural heritage. It is estimated that Denmark has 350 to 400 thatchers.

Mushroom House of Charlevoix Michigan

The mushroom house of Charlevoix Michigan features a rather bold thatch roof. Originally built in 1919 by famed design builder Earl Young. It was extensively remodeled in 2013 by Michael Seitz and received its thatch roof from Colin McGhee. If you wish to reserve it for a stay you can do so here.

With one of the oldest modern day thatching societies and having one of the largest thatching workforce, the United Kingdom and Ireland have an estimated 600 to 900 thatchers and approximately 60,000 thatched properties.  Up to 1,000 thatchers find work in Holland where the thatching tradition both in the past and the present is strongly rooted.  Including traders and growers, it is estimated that 1,500 people in Holland earn a living from the thatching industry.  Approximately 4,000 to 5,000 new roofs are thatched annually in Holland.

Thatched bakery in Avebury, England

A thatched roof on The Old Bakery in Avebury, Wiltshire with St. James Church beyond.

Colin McGhee, a native of England’s Lake District, is a roof thatcher based in Virginia.  He has been thatching in the United States for over 25 years, including repairing several roofs at the Jamestown Settlement living history museum.  At the age of 25, he became the youngest thatcher ever to win the Master Thatcher’s Cup.  In 1992, McGhee was flown to the United States to do a thatched roof for a Virginia home.  After McGhee returned to Britain for a few months, he came back to set up on this side of the Atlantic.

“People who want a thatch roof are usually a bit more eccentric,” McGhee said of his U.S. clients.  “They see it and they want it.”

When thatching, McGhee says, he tries to be meticulous.  He feels that the roof has to have at least 18 inches of thatch for proper protection.  Hazel-wood sticks are used to tie the straw down. They must be done at a specific angle to prevent water from getting in.

Cockington's Drum Inn with thatched roof

The Drum Inn of Cockington under a thatched roof

Roof thatcher William Cahill, a native of Ireland, is based in Ohio.  He has been thatching in the US for over 30 years.  William trained with his good friend, the late Peter Brockett, the master thatcher who led the thatch training school for the English Thatchers Association.  He mentored under Peter Slevin, the only thatcher in the United States who has been here since the 1950s.  Slevin was instrumental in getting the Smithsonian Institute to sponsor William’s work on the prestigious Jamestown Church project in the historic Jamestown Virginia Settlement in 1986.

While thatch hasn’t been as common in the U.S., Cahill estimates that there are thatched buildings in every state.  When a thatched house in Maine was listed for sale it increased traffic on its road enough to draw the attention of the police.  Since there are a smaller number of thatchers here, as evidenced by the variety of project locations in their portfolios, nationwide travel is often part of their work.

Cahill’s tool chest is not of the hammer and nail variety.  He has a small forge of his own back in Ohio, where he crafts many of his own tools.  “It’s the first form of roofing it the world,” says Cahill. He says it’s a lovely feeling to know you are preserving an ancient building craft, using sustainable/green materials and creating a unique custom product with each handmade roof. Cahill says that people today travel and are exposed to a variety of things, whether it’s a Bosch washer, European cars, or thatch roofs.

Cadgwith cottages with thatched roofs

Thatched cottages in Cadgwith, Cornwall.

Most inquiries we get for thatched properties tend to be from people looking for the ‘green’ factor.  Thatch is seen as a sensible, sustainable material, observes Andrew Harwood, head of Strutt & Parker Sevenoaks.  His associate Edward Church, head of Strutt & Parker Canterbury, adds that, “Thatch is the original roofing material and is generally local.  Environmentally friendly it certainly is!”

Thatched Cottage in Chipping Campden, Cotswolds

Cotswolds cottage with thatched roof in Chipping Campden, UK

William Cahill says that with a little regular maintenance thatched roofs can potentially last for hundreds of years.  With its history going back, beyond antiquity, its easy to say that thatch is one of the most time tested types of roofing materials. Often known as a the roofing of storybook homes thatch is sought after for its old world charm.

According to Colin McGhee, thatch roofs are not only aesthetically appealing but also provide four times the insulation of other typical roofs.  Given that thatch has a high R-value, a building’s roof insulation can be significantly reduced, if not, eliminated.  As a rule of thumb 10” of thatch has the same R-value as 7” of fiberglass batt, or an R-value of R26.6.  If you’re not familiar, R-value measure’s a material’s ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value the better the insulation.

Home with thatch roof in Cockington Village

A Cockington Village thatched roof.

For several reasons, thatch is highly sustainable.  Thatch can be grown most anywhere, which can make it easy to locally source.  It’s a rapidly renewable resource ready for harvest once if not several times a year.  Since it can be sourced locally, using thatch can help boost local economies.  Unlike most roofing, thatch is biodegradable, so it’ll simply decompose when it’s disposed of.  It doesn’t get more green than that!

Frequently asked Questions:

Q: How many buildings are roofed with thatch?
A: The United Kingdom and Ireland are known for the strength of their past and present thatching tradition.  A 2013 report estimated that there were 60,000 properties in the UK and Ireland with a thatched roof.  Thatch is less common in the US, but thatcher William Cahill estimates that there are thatched buildings in at least every state. However, there are at least 100,000 in Japan, 4,000 to 5,000 added annually in Holland, and an estimated two million in Africa!

Thatched home in Avebury

Half timbered home with a thatch roof in Avebury, Wiltshire.

Q: How much does a thatch roof cost?
A: Pricing depends on size, location, roof features etc., but in general, thatch installed is about $35 per square foot plus material delivery.  This is fairly comparable to authentic slate roofing.

Q: How does a thatch roof impact property value?
A: Properties with a thatch roof are said to hold their value better than comparable ones with a slate or tile roof. Realtor Sophie Gannon says thatch is a selling point. People come to her specifically asking for thatch, in search of their “dream country house.”

Thatched garage roof Taunton

Detached garage with thatched roof and eyebrow dormer in Taunton, Massachusetts.  Thatched by Colin McGhee.

Q: How does thatch keep water out?
A: Naturally waterproof, water reed is actually hollow and the cellular structure is so tightly overlapped that water can’t get inside.  Bundled together, as it would be on a thatch roof, water can’t penetrate one, maybe two inches. We’ll cover more on this topic in another post.

Thatch roof ridge detail with block cut

Thatch ridge detail with block cut wrap over.

Q: How does a thatch roof perform in heavy winds?
A: With a network of thatch going back 5’+ into the roof, wires, and steel rods, thatch is quite a sturdy roof.  It’s reported that during a 1998 storm in Ireland with 100+ mph winds, the thatch roofs were left unscathed, while many slate roofs suffered serious damage.

Q: Does Thatch meet fire safety code standards?
A: Homes with thatch are statistically less likely to burn than other homes. Thatch is easily brought up to fire safety code standards with the application of an approved fire retardant, typically spray on.

Thatched roof detail at eave

Sketch of a thatch eave detail with the Dorset model.

Q: Is thatch suitable for snowy climates?
A: To cope with snow, thatch roofs are steeply pitched.  William Cahill says that thatch is suitable for snowy climates if the roof pitch is at least 12/12 (45 degrees), preferably greater.  A roof with this pitch or greater is more attractive anyway, in our opinion.  Historical villages such as Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama in Japan receive heavy snow in winter and are known for their thatch tradition.  We’ll cover more on this topic in another post.

Q: What material are thatch roofs made of?
A: Most commonly thatch consists of long straw wheats or water reed, but there are many other thatches such as heather, palm, bamboo, eucalyptus, and willow. Often times thatchers harvest their own thatch. For example, William Cahill cuts 40 acres of water reed every year in New Jersey. “It’s a very invasive weed,” he said.

Researchers are experimenting with the Viking tradition of sea weed (eel grass) thatch.  The few examples exist on the island of Læsø in Denmark.  The eel grass is infused with salt from growing in the ocean.  The salt makes it fireproof, pest, and rot resistant.  The seaweed thatch is proven to last for centuries.  It is an abundantly available, rapidly renewable, and a carbon negative resource that can be efficiently wild harvested, or cultivated, so as to not disturb the marine habitat.

Chipping Campden thatched roof

A thatched roof cottage in Chipping Campden.

Q: Are there any pest issues with thatch?
A: A properly thatched roof will have no holes.  Rats and mice won’t bother with thatch if this is the case.  Birds won’t bother with water reed because it is too rigid.  However the wheat straw found in the ridge or the entire roof is suitable bird nest material.  This can be easily dealt with by covering the wheat straw portion of the roof with chicken wire.

Q: How long does a thatch roof last?
A: Long straw will last 15 to 30 years, combed wheat reed will last 25 to 40 years, and water reed: 50 to 60 years.  Note that a 50 year roof is comparable to the warranty on other types of roofing such as metal or lifetime asphalt composition shingle.  Ridges are always made with long straw and they will last for 10 to 20 years.

Waggon & Horses, a thatched pub in Beckhampton

Thatched pub in Beckhampton, England

Have you considered thatch for your next roof?  Feel free to let us know in the comments below.

Brian Reeves

Hendricks Architecture, architects in Sandpoint, Idaho, USA.  We’ve designed everything from small cabins and storybook houses, to mountain lodges and estates.

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Mountain Architecture: Parkitecture

August 19, 2019 by Brian Reeves Leave a Comment

From Yosemite to Glacier, there are many spectacular national parks in North America, especially out west.  In addition to the natural splendor, many park visitors have also been captivated by the rustic mountain architecture of the national park service, otherwise known as Parkitecture.

These buildings appear to be extensions of the very locations on which they stand.  The over sized boulders that make up their foundations seem to have been quarried from the nearby cliffs.  The old growth rough hewn timbers bearing their walls and roofs appear to have materialized from the adjacent forests.  Parkitecture draws from craftsman, Swiss chalets, Adirondack, and other vernacular forms of architecture, and is considered to be one of the early versions of today’s Mountain Architecture.

Many Glacier Lodge Early Mountain Architecture

Many Glacier Lodge in Glacier National Park located on Swiftcurrent Lake with Mt. Grinnell Beyond. This alpine lodge is a fine example of both parkitecture and mountain architecture.

Also known as “National Park Service rustic”, there are many building types that exhibit parkitecture, ranging from museums, park headquarters, ranger’s cabins, vista houses, and lodges.  While known for their rustic appearance, these mountain lodges in many respects are far from primitive.  They feature grand halls with massive fireplaces, decks and large windows with sweeping views, and fine dining halls.

Parkitecture Many Glacier Lodge Glacier National Park with Lake Swiftcurrent

Many Glacier Lodge as seen from Swiftcurrent Lake in Glacier National Park

At the beginning, during the era of the railways, these mountain lodges were catered to the elite who accessed the parks via trains.  Glacier, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone National Parks, specifically, were developed by railway companies. They provided a European traveling experience without need of a 5 – 9 day journey on an ocean liner.  Glacier National Park (in northwestern Montana), and its mountain architecture, was marketed by the Great Northern Railway as America’s Alps or the Switzerland of North America.

Mountain Architecture Many Glacier Lodge Interior

Many Glacier Lodge Interior

The parkitecture style developed as the national parks grew.  Mountain architects such as Gilbert Underwood, Robert Reamer, and Mary Colter all left major contributions to the style. As both an architect and public administrator, Herbert Maier also left a significant impact, often with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation.

The Old Faithful Inn, located in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, is the largest log structure in the world.  Designed by Robert Reamer, it was built in 1904 with local, natural materials, including lodge-pole pine logs.

Exterior of Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful Inn

Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn.  Photo by Interior Designer Tyson Ness of Studio Ness

The inn is considered the first of the great park lodges in western America, and is situated such that when visitors arrive they can see directly towards the Old Faithful geyser.  Once inside they’re greeted by a towering lobby with a massive stone fireplace and log trusses.

Interior Lobby of Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn

The Interior Lobby of Old Faithful Inn.  Photo by Interior Designer Tyson Ness of Studio Ness


The Old Faithful Inn, in Yellowstone National Park (Google street view image.  For Mobile: pinch to zoom and swipe to pan. Tap the double arrow icon in the lower right to look around. This mode navigates as the user moves their device. For desktop: scroll to zoom in and out. Left click and drag to pan.)

During the Great Depression, president Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to provide work for the unemployed via the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).  This resulted in the construction of many parkitecture buildings such as the Silver Falls Lodge, the Mt. Spokane Vista House, and most notably Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood.

Parkitecture Silver Falls State Park Lodge

The Silver Falls Lodge in Oregon.  Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.


The Vista House at Mt. Spokane State Park, near Spokane, Washington.  Also built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Positioned just at the tree line’s edge on the side of Mt. Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak, is the famous Timberline Lodge.  From this prime location one has a front row view of of Mt. Hood, but the view in the opposite direction is also spectacular, with views of Mt. Jefferson and other peaks. Built during the Great Depression through Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) this  74,000 square foot mountain lodge is no small accomplishment.  The building features a large two story hexagon room in the center with a dining wing to the right and bedroom wing to the left (as viewed from the main entry side).

Mountain Architect Timberline Lodge Mt. Hood

Timberline Lodge is located on Mt. Hood with its own ski area.  If it looks familiar, the exterior was used in the horror film “The Shining”.

Timberline Lodge is well known for it’s rustic mountain craftsmanship.  Massive timbers make up the framing in the center hall. Each newel post has a unique animal carving.  The lodge’s logo, a design rooted in native american heritage, is a snow goose in the weather vane on top of the central chimney.

Mountain Architect designed Timberline Lodge Mt. Hood Interior

Timberline Lodge Interior featuring a three story chimney with six fireplaces

In 1937 Roosevelt arrived in Oregon to dedicate the Bonneville Dam and Timberline Lodge.  As the president’s forty vehicle motorcade neared Timberline, mounted Forest Service personnel lined the road to wave and salute him.  After arriving he took the elevator to the main floor, came out on the terrace known today as Roosevelt Terrace, and gave a speech on the value of our national forests and the benefits that this mountain lodge would bring to many future generations.

Paradise Inn was built in 1916 on the south flank of Mount Rainier, in Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park.  Many climbers stay at the Inn before ascending the 14,411 foot (4,392 meters) high mountain.  Native materials were used and included cedar shingles, stone and weathered timbers salvaged from an 1885 fire.

Parkitecture Paradise Lodge Mt. Rainier National Park

The Paradise Inn at Mt. Rainier National Park, on the south flank of Mt. Rainier

Paradise Inn and the Crater Lake Lodge (in Oregon), for example, have both received extensive restorations, with most of the Crater Lake Lodge being entirely rebuilt.

Crater Lake Lodge

 

Parkitecture Rim Village Crater Lake National Park

The Rim Village Visitor’s Center in Crater Lake National Park, a short walk west from the Crater Lake Lodge

 

Ahwahnee Hotel Yosemite National Park Lodge

Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel.  Photo credit to Nicole, Instagram’s sanjuan_gypsy

Situated on the valley floor of Yosemite National Park (California), with magnificent views of the Royal Arches, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Glacier Point is the Ahwahnee Hotel.  Built two decades after Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn, this mountain hotel was intended to be a hotel decked with the finer things in life.  The Ahwahnee was the product of a group of architects, bureaucrats, visionaries, and businessmen.  Stephen Mather, most well known as the first director of the National Parks Service, was the lead on this project.  Mountain architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, a graduate of Harvard, is responsible for the design.  When it was built in 1926 the construction cost was $1.5 million.  The hotel was recently renamed “The Majestic Yosemite Hotel” due to a disagreement with the national government and a concessions business.


Ahwahnee Hotel Exterior

Mather presided when the hotel opened in July of 1926. He got his grand mountain hotel in his favorite national park. The completed masterpiece stands as a testament to the talent of Underwood.  Each asymmetrical level of the six story core has a chimney.  The two wings are three stories each.  Though the hotel is very grand, it is humbled by the tall ponderosa, oak, and sequoia trees that surround it, and being located at the center of Yosemite Valley, its size is further minimized by the surrounding lofty cliffs.

The president of the Great Northern Railway, Louis Hill, stepped down in 1912, from his position as president, to develop the mountain lodges of Glacier National Park.  The Glacier Park Lodge located at East Glacier was the first of many mountain lodges to be built in Glacier. Since this lodge would be accessed via rail there is a train station just across the lawn.

The Glacier Park Lodge – at East Glacier

Hill was very fond of the Forestry building built in Portland Oregon for the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. It was known as the world’s largest log cabin. As such, he chose to model the Glacier Park Lodge after the forestry building. The Forestry building was a long building with two cross gables at each end. There was a long two story porch along the entry side, and it featured a large atrium in the center, the length of the building. All these attributes were carried into the design of Glacier Park Lodge. Sadly, in 1964, the Forestry Building completely burnt down due to a fire caused by faulty electrical wiring. On a positive note, one could say that the Forestry Building’s form lives on as the Glacier Park Lodge.

Mountain Architecture World's Largest Log Cabin

The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition’s Forestry Building was built in 1905 in Portland Oregon. It was known as the world’s largest log cabin. It burnt down in 1964 (photo credit: wikipedia)

Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park (Montana) was designed by architect Kirtland Cutter and built in 1913.  The lodge is one of the USA’s best examples of large-scale Swiss chalet architecture.  It was built during a time when railroads wanted to attract tourists and create upscale destination resorts that were an equal to the extraordinary scenic areas.

Mountain Architecture Lake Mc Donald Lodge Glacier National Park

Lake McDonald Lodge Glacier National Park – Exterior View

Mountain Architect Lake Mc Donald Lodge Glacier National Park Interior

Lake McDonald Lodge Glacier National Park Interior

Many structures were influenced by the National Park Lodges.   In Canada, the Jasper National Park Information Center, designed by Edmonton architect A.M. Calderon, was heavily influenced by Parkitecture.  This in turn influenced other buildings in the Canadian National Park system.  Built in 1914 and located in the town of Jasper, Alberta, it served as a landmark for passengers arriving on the Canadian National Railway, and still is the primary visitor contact center for visitors to the park.  In 1992 it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.

 

Parkitecture Jasper National Park Information Center

Detail of the Jasper National Park Information Center in Jasper, Alberta.  

Decades have gone by since the “glory days” of Parkitecture. Many of these beloved buildings are showing signs of age. As architect Steve Mouzon puts it, “If a building cannot be loved, then it is likely to be demolished and carted off to the landfill in only a generation or two.”  Thankfully many of these buildings have lasted more than a generation or two, indicating that they may be here for generations to come.

Do you have a favorite work of Parkitecture?

For more on early mountain architecture, see Origins of Mountain Architecture in America.

Brian Reeves

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho.  We’ve designed everything from small mountain cabins and beach houses, to expansive mountain lodges and estates.

Please feel free to Leave a Comment or Question

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Priest Lake Cabin

January 26, 2018 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA 2 Comments

A lakefront beach cabin we designed was recently completed on the shores of Priest Lake, in Northern Idaho.  Beautiful lake views abound from just about every room.

The owners wanted to replace an outdated cabin that was set far off the beach.  The placement and design layout of the home didn’t work for them, and wasn’t very energy efficient, so they decided to start from scratch.  The Owner’s “cabin on the lake” wishlist included a rustic, yet refined look on the exterior, with cedar, stone and timbers.   A connection to the outdoors, with lake views from all the major rooms, along with outdoor living spaces, was a must.

A beachfront cabin at Priest Lake

Beachfront cabin at Priest Lake

The new cabin includes four bedrooms and a large game and sleeping loft.  The beach level lower floor comprises of a boat garage with plenty of room for other water toy storage, as well as a family room and two bedrooms.  Down below there is also a mud room and outdoor shower on the side.

Priest Lake cabin dining room with a view

A Priest Lake cabin dining room with a view

The main entry level has an intimate dining and kitchen, along with a master suite that includes a large tub and walk-in shower, and beautiful views across the lake.  A soaring living room, with recessed bookcases and overhead timber trusses (two flanking a two-story fireplace), shares space with the upper loft.

Soaring living room with fireplace and timber trusses

A soaring living room and loft space connect to the more intimate kitchen and dining rooms.

The living room and dining room both have access to a large deck, held up by timber posts and knee braces, wrapping around to the front of the cabin.  The lake views out of these rooms are breathtaking.  There’s also a one-car garage on the main level.

The cabin's views of Priest Lake

An intimate dining room and a soaring living room space both have incredible views of the lake.

The cabin was designed in the Mountain Architectural style, which incorporates natural elements.  The siding is beveled cedar, with stone accents.  It is post and beam construction, versus a true timber frame.  The windows are aluminum clad, with alder wood interiors.

Priest Lake's southern end

Part of the southern end of Priest Lake, as see from East Shore Road.

Priest Lake is in the northern panhandle of Idaho, in what is called “Lake Country”.  Though it’s only the 3rd largest lake, behind Lake Pend Oreille and Lake Coeur d’Alene, it’s still 26,000 acres, or about 41 square miles.  All three of the lakes produce some of the biggest trout in the country, along with kokanee, bass and many others.  Priest Lake is the more rugged of the three, as in more forested, and is much quieter in the winter.  There is also a 2.5 mile long thoroughfare at the northern end of the lake, connecting to a smaller Upper Priest Lake, which is even quieter with no cabins.

Every time I drive out to Priest Lake, I’m reminded quite a bit of Huntington Lake in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, which is a lake where we had a family cabin when I was growing up.  Except that Priest Lake is almost twenty times as big in area.  Both are big in fishing, hiking and camping.

Priest Lake's Huckleberry Bay on the north side

Huckleberry Bay on the north side of Priest Lake.

The contractor was Mike Sandau of Sandau Builders.  If you ever want to build on Priest Lake, I would highly recommend using them.  Other photos can be seen at Cabin at Priest Lake.  Special thanks to Marie Dominique Verdier, who took these beautiful photos.  And of course, a big thanks to the homeowners, who were great to work with, and who I won’t name so they can keep their privacy.

John Hendricks, AIA Architect

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Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of mountain style homes and cabins, and has been listed yearly among Mountain Living’s top mountain architects.  We try to add a little bit of soul into each home, to reflect the personalities and wishes of the homeowners.  We’ve designed all over the USA (including many at Priest Lake), and several other countries.

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Creative Architecture

April 15, 2017 by Jesse Hart, Intern Architect Leave a Comment

There is architecture, and then there is creative architecture. Most architectural projects begin with a precedent, a design rooted in a defined architectural style. For us, it is often the Mountain and Arts and Crafts styles. While most architectural projects are based on some architectural style or movement, innovative and creative projects stem from the open minds of homeowners teaming with inventive architects. I have selected five recent projects from various architects that ignite my creativity.

(Written by Jesse Hart, a creative University of Idaho Architecture student who interned with us)  

The Creative Architecture of Frank Gehry's Dancing House in Prague

Frank Gehry’s Dancing House in Prague

Dancing House, designed by Vlado Milunić and Frank Gehry, is located in Prague, Czech Republic. This project bends perspective and distorts the view of the built world; buildings like this reform what we think is possible.  It was originally named Fred and Ginger, to emulate the famous dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers (Fred’s on the right).

This creative treehouse makes for whimsical hobbit architecture

Treehouse by Blue Forest

Built by the British luxury tree-house design-build firm Blue Forest, this project looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. The shape is inspired by a tree, but is like nothing else I have seen. It definitely begs a second look.

A fun, creative treehouse

Treehouse Point Bed & Breakfast

Designed and built by Pete Nelson, TreeHouse Point Bed and Breakfast near Seattle, with includes several tree-houses, sparks my childhood creativity. Tree-house dreams don’t end with childhood, but continue into adulthood. This project is a prime example of this.

A creative garage remodel

Repurposed Garage by Graypants

This old mid-1900’s garage in Vashon, Washington was repurposed by Graypants.  While not as surreal as the previous projects, it is creative in a different way. Being able to rethink the old, and to bring the dead back to life, requires a creative mind.

A creative multi-purpose building

L’arbre Blanc – Designed by Sou Fujimoto Architects, NLA, and OXO Architects

Above it the multi-purpose tower L’Arbre Blanc (White Tree) in Montpellier, France, was designed by Sou Fujimoto Architects, NLA, and OXO Architects. Inspired by the functionality of a tree, the balconies create shade and absorb sunlight. It is appreciable to look to nature for functional design inspiration; being able to do this requires a creative, problem-solving mind.

These projects show me how far a little creativity can go. I am thankful for ingenuity in the design world, for architecture being pushed in a direction it has never been; for fresh ideas and new perspectives. Where does your creativity take you?

Jesse Hart – Hendricks Architecture

As architects designing custom homes and other projects, we love hearing new ideas from clients and making them a reality.  Imaginative minds produce creative architecture.  Contact us here.

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Hendricks Architecture

We are mountain architects specializing in mountain architecture throughout North America, from lodges and lakefront homes to cabins and beach houses.

John Hendricks, AIA
418 Pine Street
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
Tel 208.265.4001
Fax 208.265.4009
Email: john@hendricksarchitect.com

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