A Stunning Contemporary Cabin in the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort of Norden, California

Trollhus is a stunning single-family residence located in Norden, California, USA. The home was designed by Mork-Ulnes Architects.

by Xenia Oct 20, 2020 18 Images

Trollhus by Mork-Ulnes Architects

Located in the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, 2.5 hours northeast of San Francisco, this 5 bedroom ski cabin was designed for 3 generations to enjoy simultaneously.

The essential diagram is straightforward: take the alpine chalet building type andlift it onto a concrete plinth to protect it from the snow.

Located at an elevation of 6,800 feet (2,000 meters), the building needs to withstand extreme snowfall that can exceed 800 inches (20 meters).

The residence’s positioning on-site, however, is more nuanced. Influenced by prevailing wind-drift direction and other climatic factors, the orientation shields the building from the street and directs views to a private stream and forest beyond.

Living spaces are arranged along the open, south-facing facade to maximize solar exposure. The shaded northern face contains utility rooms where small punched windows draw in indirect northern light but minimize heatloss.

Tar-treated wood siding recedes among the tree trunks of this wooded site, and at dusk the interior finished with minimally treated fir glows warm through the windows.