A light-filled great room on the top level was designed to capture panoramic views from the home’s hilltop perch in Tahoe Donner

• Objectives: Because the owners of this home love the extreme lifestyle at the top of Tahoe Donner, the main objective was to embrace the harsh conditions at 7,300 feet in elevation—no matter what Mother Nature throws at them. Other primary goals were to maximize the dramatic mountain views and to create a lasting legacy home for future generations to enjoy.

• Special and Unique Features: The home is loaded with unique features, including a custom backup power system using power walls that act as a backup generator, seamlessly turning on and keeping appliances running when the power goes out. The roof, which was engineered to sustain the weight of huge snow loads, includes 40-inch-tall timber support beams and eave metal heat to prevent the formation of large cornice pearls. To capture views, the project team inverted the building so the main living area was on top of the home. Due to the steep pitch of the lot, which approaches 30 degrees, the home is terraced into the hillside. Four separate staircases connect the four levels, each of which has its own elevation and captures different elements. 

• Why it Won an Award: This home project was all about embracing and overcoming challenges, and the results speak for themselves. Every square inch of the house was carefully planned, thought out and enhanced to meet the owners’ needs. As Mark Tanner, the home’s builder, says: “It’s simply a higher quality home that you haven’t seen in Tahoe Donner, so it sets a new standard for the entire Tahoe region.”

Unique mountain views abound from throughout the home thanks to its thoughtful siting on a steep and challenging property

Merit Award:
Site Response

Building Design: Lot C Architecture

Builder: Mark Tanner Construction

Interior Design: Mark Tanner Construction; Homeowners

Landscape Design: NA

Square Feet: 4,459