Imagine waking up every morning to the rustling leaves and distant babble of a creek right outside your window – not as a visitor to the woods, but as someone who calls it home. That's the enchanting reality for a family in Lancaster County's Southern End, where they've embraced autumn's vibrant colors without ever leaving their property. But here's where it gets intriguing: their custom-built residence, dubbed Treetops, isn't just any house; it's a masterful blend of modern luxury and natural immersion that pushes the boundaries of conventional living. And this is the part most people miss – it's not just about the views; it's about how this home challenges our ideas of what a 'normal' dwelling should look like in today's eco-conscious world.
As the fall foliage peaks in Lancaster County, this family doesn't need to venture far to soak in nature's seasonal show. Their innovative abode, perched on the crest of a hill overlooking Pequea Creek, offers breathtaking panoramas from both indoor and outdoor areas. 'The owner dreamed of gazing out from their living spaces and truly feeling integrated with the environment,' explains Kyle Solyak, the architect and operations director for TONO Group who spearheaded the project. 'That's why we positioned it right at the hill's edge, creating an intimate connection to the surrounding landscape.'
Located near 272 South outside Willow Street, the site required demolishing a commercial building to accommodate this 4,900-square-foot marvel. Fortunately, the 22-acre lot retained plenty of mature trees, ensuring the natural beauty wasn't compromised. Construction spanned nearly a year and came with a hefty $3 million price tag – a figure that might raise eyebrows for some, but for others, it's a worthwhile investment in a one-of-a-kind lifestyle. TONO Group kept the homeowners' identities private for security reasons, but Solyak and project manager Travis Dantinne from PROTO Construction (a TONO affiliate) shared fascinating details about this four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom retreat.
To foster that sense of oneness with nature, Solyak focused on amplifying views and natural light. In private areas like bedrooms, oversized windows capture expansive scenes, while communal zones such as the open-plan kitchen, living, and dining areas feature floor-to-ceiling glass that stretches one-and-a-half stories high. This design trick makes the space feel like it's hovering above the ground, almost floating in the treetops – a clever illusion that enhances the immersive experience. For beginners in home design, think of it as turning your living room into a giant picture frame of the outdoors, where the boundary between inside and out blurs seamlessly.
Ventilation plays a key role too, with a combination of operable windows and bi-fold sliding doors that invite fresh air and cross-breezes, naturally cooling the home without relying solely on air conditioning. To manage sunlight in this wooded setting, Solyak considered the sun's path throughout the day. Generous roof overhangs and automated shades prevent glare and overheating, adjusting automatically or manually as needed. 'If the midday sun becomes too intense, the shades deploy on their own,' Solyak notes. 'Conversely, if you want to flood the space with light, you can open them up effortlessly.' This smart integration ensures comfort year-round, adapting to the whims of nature.
Blending indoor and outdoor living extends beyond windows. A standout feature is a wall in the living and dining area that folds away entirely, transforming into a massive door leading to a fire pit and pool. To maintain visual continuity, the flooring inside matches the porcelain tile outside, with the exterior version being thicker and more durable to withstand weather. It's a subtle yet brilliant detail that makes the transition feel effortless, as if the home flows directly into the landscape.
The home's technology elevates convenience to new heights. While traditional switches still work, everything from thermostats to refrigerators connects via a single app, controlling HVAC, security, and even the sound system remotely. You could dim all lights with one tap, set up 'party mode' lighting, or stream music throughout the house or in specific rooms. For those new to smart homes, imagine having a personal assistant that anticipates your needs – like adjusting the temperature before you arrive or playing your favorite playlist as you step inside.
Despite its innovative flair, the build was relatively straightforward, with minimal issues, according to Dantinne. 'This is fundamentally a wood-frame structure using standard residential techniques,' Solyak adds. 'What sets it apart is the unconventional design: a distinctive roofline, irregular massing, and expansive openings that challenge typical home-building norms.' But here's where it gets controversial – is this envelope-pushing approach a sustainable dream or an extravagant indulgence that could inspire more eco-friendly homes, or perhaps even spark debate about whether such luxury homes contribute to environmental strain?
One particularly unique element is the gabion fence, requested by the homeowners. Gabions, for those unfamiliar, are wire baskets filled with rocks, commonly used in industrial retaining walls to prevent erosion or landslides. Here, the team crafted a fence from galvanized steel baskets packed with landscape stone, interspersed with composite 'wood' sections that won't fade over time. This setup offers privacy on flat ground while doubling as a retaining wall, spanning about 200 feet before giving way to a metal picket fence that frames views of the woods. It's an industrial touch in a natural setting – a choice that might divide opinions: some see it as a rugged, modern aesthetic that complements the landscape, while others question if it disrupts the organic feel of the property. And this is the part most people miss – how such features could redefine privacy and security in rural homes, potentially setting trends for future builds.
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* Dec 31, 1969
In a world increasingly focused on sustainable living, does a $3 million treehouse-like home like Treetops represent the future of eco-luxury, or is it just an elite escape that widens the gap between the haves and have-nots? What do you think – should more homes incorporate industrial elements like gabion fences into natural settings, or does that risk undermining the very nature we're trying to embrace? Share your thoughts in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have your own take on blending modern design with the outdoors!
