Inside the Design: A Modern Treehouse Embraces Net-Zero Living
In this second installment of Inside the Design, we take a closer look at the Lookout House, an urban respite shaped by its wooded setting and performance-driven design. Set within a forest and overlooking a creek, the project balances craft, landscape, and sustainability. Jim Childress, FAIA, shares insight into the thinking behind key design decisions.
Why did you choose Shou Sugi Ban siding for the house?
"We wanted a material that felt at home in the forest while standing up to the climate. The charred cedar siding offers a deep, textured black that echoes the shadows of the woods, yet is remarkably durable and low-maintenance. It was imported from Japan and required a French cabinet maker to help install it. The corners required careful mitering, and boards were shaped and doweled to align with window openings, giving the house a crafted clarity that complements the surrounding trees."
How did the design take advantage of views in both directions?
"The site invited a dual perspective — down to a rushing creek and up to a wooded hill — so the house was shaped to embrace both. The main living spaces open southward to a 12-foot-tall window wall, offering a treehouse-like view into the canopy and toward the creek below. On the opposite side, rooms lift their gaze upslope, capturing the quiet rise of the hill. This two-way orientation creates a constant dialogue with the forest and anchors the house in its landscape."
What makes the project’s sustainability strategy so effective?
"The house operates at net-zero, powered entirely by electricity from two photovoltaic arrays. The arrays can produce about 22,200 kWh annually. The house had an EUI of 19.5 in its first year. This is achieved with a super-insulated, airtight envelope with a combination of closed and open cell foam insulation, triple glazing on the east, west, and north sides, and double glazing on the south façade to increase solar gain in winter. A Zehnder energy-recovery ventilator supplies fresh air with minimal heat loss. Heating and cooling come from a hydronic radiant floor system fed by an electric boiler and supplemented by efficient heat-pump mini-splits. Domestic hot water is provided by a heat-pump system, and the house is net-metered with provisions for future batteries as technology advances."
The Lookout House demonstrates how architecture can quietly support both daily life and long-term sustainability — working in harmony with the forest rather than competing with it.
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