Perch House
The owners dreamed of “waking up among the birds” each morning—we made the dream a reality.
Soaring through the trees
This house evolved around the story of a human "perch" up in the branches of the trees, with birds as one’s neighbors.
Our goal was to integrate the home into the natural environment as much as possible, so when you walk out onto the cantilevered balcony, you feel you have perched in the canopy of the beautiful, mature beech trees.
It’s the perfect spot for birdwatching.
More windows than walls
We designed the living space with floor-to-ceiling windows to capitalize on the copious natural light.
The interconnected dining, kitchen, and living room areas have an airy, yet warm feel, with high ceilings and light flowing in from all sides.
Achieving beautiful details by cutting costs
The orientation of the stair is such that the noon sunlight enters and casts a beautiful pattern of shadows. The light strikes last only a few minutes each day, creating an ephemeral, but recurring art piece.
Beautiful semi-open partitions, such as this stairwell, not only add to the home’s beauty but also cost significantly less than a solid wall.
Revel in nature, while maintaining privacy from neighbors
The property is situated in a neighborhood of houses on narrow, 50-foot-wide lots, but the siting of the Perch House feels secluded.
We positioned windows to maximize the view of nearby trees while minimizing the views to and from the neighboring houses.
Building the house in miniature
This house began as a 3D wooden model. As opposed to a drawing, a model allows the client to explore the space more fully and imagine themselves there.
The use of this model allowed the clients to feel confident that the end result would work perfectly.
The model also served as a resource for our building team, guiding their work and allowing them to visualize how it should look when finished.
Perch House featured on HGTV
This clip (6:28) from HGTV’s “What You Get For The Money: Homes” features a tour of the Perch House and details the emotional story behind the build. It also discusses cost-effective building techniques we used to keep the project on budget.
Perch House - Gallery
Recognition for Perch House
Whole House Award winner
Award of Merit in Residential Architecture
Award of Merit