Banyan Drive Treehouse
Part office/studio, part recreational getaway, this unique project is located at the base of a large pine tree in the backyard of a canyon residence. The client is an artist and lover of nature so the Banyon Drive Treehouse, perched twelve feet off the ground, will serve as a creative respite from the demands of domestic responsibilities.
Though modest in size, the plan is efficient and allows for a studio space/living area and a toilet room. Deep-oiled wood siding, mahogany windows, and a Rheinzink roof were chosen for their natural qualities and rich palette.
Status: Completed in 2009
Project Size: 170 s.f.
Architectural Team: Christopher Kempel, AIA, Rocky Rockefeller, AIA, Bridget Zimniski
Photography: Eric Staudenmaier
Press: NBC's Open House, Architecture Durable, Architecture Intérieure Créé Magazine, SaB Magazine, Architectural Record Online, California Home + Design, Vårtnya Hus Magazine, Builder News Magazine, Forbes Life, Details Magazine, C3 Magazine, Dwell Magazine Online, and dozens of blogs
Awards: AIA Long Beach / South Bay Merit Award, Architecture Exhibit in Moscow
Inspired by the rough, tactile charm of shoreline shacks, our client commissioned us to reinterpret a “modern beach home.” Consequently, the design draws its personality from the site’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean and prominent position on the corner of a Manhattan Beach walk-street. A centrally located courtyard garden heightens the classic indoor-outdoor connection to the communal spaces of the first floor and brings warmth and light to the bedrooms and office on the floor above. A gentle wood stair, punctured by glass slots, encourages additional views and moments of sunshine as visitors ascend to the third floor. This final space, complete with a wet bar and spacious deck, satisfies our clients’ natural affinity for lounging beneath Southern California sunsets.
Status: Completed in 2012
Project Size: 4,941 s.f.
Architectural Team: Christopher Kempel, AIA, Rocky Rockefeller, AIA, Keith Ireland, AIA, Bridget Zimniski, Anthony Laney
Drawing from the heritage of a traditional farmhouse, this modern residence expresses the beauty of a home both classic and contemporary, orthodox and original.
Status: Design Phase
Project Size: 7,220 s.f.
Architectural Team: Christopher Kempel, AIA, Rocky Rockefeller, AIA, Anthony Laney
