A Tree Grows Through the Center of This Echo Park Rental
From the outside, you might not even notice the giant tree growing straight up through the middle of this Echo Park, California home. But once you get inside, the solid trunk shooting up from the forest floor, through a bedroom, and out of the roof is undeniable.
Tucked in between towering Cypress trees on a steep hillside in Echo Park, Anonymous Architects' "House in Trees" is exactly what its name implies. Strategically placed on the hillside between three large cedars, architect Simon Storey chose to preserve the massive fourth tree in the center of the site, leaving it in place and incorporating it into the design.
Waterproofing the tree was challenging, but a system was specially devised to keep water out of the house.
"The house is like a minimalist barn that seems to be floating over the steep hillside, with an undulating roof that mimics the topography," says broker Kristal Moffett of Deasy Penner Podley. "There are not a lot of architectural homes for rent, and to find a one-of-a-kind house that is this dramatic, in such a delightful location, is a genuinely rare opportunity,"
In an effort to blend into the wooded environment the home is clad in reclaimed cedar siding which has been fire treated to meet with local building codes.
Clad in reclaimed wood, the 2,400-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home certainly features special details that you don't find in most rental properties. There are retractable glass walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, handmade tiles in the kitchen, a custom bookshelf that doubles as a staircase to a lofted play space, and even an electric car charger in the garage. The fully-tiled master bath features a sunken soaking tub and a steam shower alongside a large picture window with a shaded canyon view. There are also two levels of cantilevered decks where residents can relax and enjoy the stellar sunsets.
Vintage hand-blown pendant lighting features in the kitchen, which also has a handmade tile backsplash.
Retractable glass walls and a wood-clad breezeway separate a second living room from the main living space.
Wood features prominently on the interiors as well. There are reclaimed wormy chestnut floors throughout.
A custom bookshelf doubles as a staircase that leads to a lofted play space.
The decks feature fantastic views and a grown-up treehouse feel.
Picture windows feature prominently throughout. Even the master bath has a major view.
The master bath also features a sunken tub which is an extension of the hex-tile floor. The walls are covered in penny tiles. There is also an adjacent steam shower.
The home has a solar hot water heater to help keep electricity bills in check.
In order to waterproof the second bedroom with the tree, the owners consulted with treehouse builders. Ultimately, they decided that the best solution was to hire a tailor to fashion a skirt and a collar out of sailboat material. "It ended up being the easiest part of building this house," shared the owner.
The home cantilevers over the hillside.
Set between three large cedars, the fourth one grows straight up through the second bedroom.
Project Credits:
Architect: Anonymous Architects / @anonymous.architects
1955 Park Drive, Los Angeles is currently listed for rent at $9,000/month by Kristal Moffett and Juan Longfellow of Deasy Penner Podley.
Related Reading: 10 Surreal Tree Houses That Will Make Your Childhood Dreams Come True
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