‘sawmill’ is an off-grid canyon retreat made from salvaged and recycled materials

seattle-based design practice olson kundig has completed a family retreat in the harsh high desert of california. located in a remote area of tehachapi, a city in the mountains north of los angeles, the house is titled ‘sawmill’ — an industrial name that references the valley’s historic mining, ranching, and logging industries. ‘recognizing this past exploitation of the site, the homeowners wanted their house to give back to the land, rather than take from it,’ say the architects.

the family retreat is located in the harsh high desert of california
image by kevin scott / olson kundig | main image by gabe border

olson kundig, led by design principal tom kundig, carefully sited the house so as not to disturb the fragile landscape. the brief from the client called for a self-sufficient dwelling that maximized relationships between architecture and nature, as well as among family members. the result is a net-zero home that utilizes sustainable strategies and reclaimed materials, while operating completely off grid.

the design references the valley’s historic mining, ranching, and logging industries
image by kevin scott / olson kundig

‘sawmill’ comprises three wings with the centrally positioned living area articulated around a central hearth. here, a 12×26-foot (3.7×7.9m) window wall retracts with the turn of a wheel, embracing the outdoor patio as the house’s fourth wing. ‘the design approach was driven by a scavenger mentality, seeking always to do more with less, including using salvaged and recycled materials whenever possible,’ explains olson kundig.

salvaged and recycled materials have been used whenever possible
image by gabe border

the net-zero home utilizes sustainable design strategies
image by gabe border

the building comprises three connected wings
image by gabe border

the residence is made from durable materials that can withstand the region’s harsh climate
image by gabe border

living space is arranged around the home’s centrally positioned hearth
image by kevin scott / olson kundig

the hearth’s glass walls can be retracted
images by kevin scott / olson kundig

the expansive window wall retracts with the turn of a wheel
image by kevin scott / olson kundig

when open, the home embraces the outdoor patio as the house’s fourth wing
image by kevin scott / olson kundig

the shared living space is designed to bring the family together
image by gabe border

the dwelling is located in tehachapi, a city in the mountains north of los angeles
image by kevin scott / olson kundig