TAMING THE SUN
“Working with Gerber-Berend exceeded my expectations from start to finish. I was impressed by their designs and visualization tools and was blown away by their work and ability to adapt the designer’s vision to the end-user’s needs.
Using a Design-Build approach was an advantage that we leveraged. When minor changes were necessary there was no drama from anybody on the team. The process works best when the whole team has experience and shares the same commitment to a superior outcome of the finished project.
Every single staff member that I encountered exceeded my expectations. Thanks so much, GBDB!”
– Matt and Lisa Christian
A house with a great view and nice outdoor space is very desirable. However, in an alpine environment, you quickly realize that direct sun can be both a blessing and a curse.
This log home had three distinct problems.
- The first was that there were three doors that looked like the front door and the real front door was hidden.
- The second was that the outdoor space that the family enjoyed was exposed to the street and lacked a sense of privacy.
- The third was that while the family enjoyed the deck and the view that faced to the south, they were often run off the deck and forced inside to avoid the heat and glare.
It seemed like a simple request: design a shade for the deck without blocking the view from inside and PLEASE give us a front entry that makes sense! The issue at hand was how to work with the existing D-log siding and create a striking new space in front of it. The answer was to use different but complementary materials and to create a foreground for the house.
To solve the entry confusion, we removed a stair from a side deck and installed a welcoming entry door and sidelights where there once was a sliding door. Reinforcing this change is a steel “gateway” that sets a clear procession from the street to the door. The gateway flows nicely into a new expanded deck and railing that offers some privacy and transparency.
To finish off this family space a steel and cedar sunshade was built to the south. The shade material is metal grating that offers a low maintenance and somewhat rustic cover while creating a delicate filtered light.
The result is a striking and very usable space that adds a contemporary flare to this log home without overpowering it.