A unique dwelling driven by scenic views and lake access doubles as a chic gym and guest quarters

Natural light and stellar views abound thanks to large windows on the lake side. The project team chose Awake Windows for their slim profile that maximizes the amount of glass

Presented with an opportunity to purchase a neighboring lakefront property, a couple assembled a talented project team to execute their vision for a sleek, multifunctional structure designed to complement their summer vacation residence.

The couple hired Mark Tanner Construction and Gordon Magnin, principal architect at Magnin Architecture, to create a compact space that would serve as a full health and wellness haven—complete with a gym, guest sleeping quarters, a kitchen and expansive deck that maximized the stunning views from its lakefront perch in Tahoe City.

“It’s really an area for them to retreat from the main house for exercise and wellness, but it also doubles as a second dwelling for their adult children or guests to have a separate dwelling within the same estate,” says Magnin. 

Because the unoccupied home on the property had fallen into disrepair, it was demolished to make way for a new build spread across 1,300 square feet. 

“The new structure that we built was designed to have a modern, cutting-edge look and appearance while maintaining some of the color and aesthetics of the neighboring property,” says Robbie Jamison, project manager with Mark Tanner Construction. “It’s essentially two lakefront parcels that are not combined in any way on paper, but we did combine them via landscaping and architecture. We used the same stain color and similar materials to try to keep the two properties speaking to one another, but the architecture of it was much more modernized (than the main home).”  

To start, a 12-foot-tall concrete stem wall was constructed to anchor the front of the building and create a parking space, while another 16-foot stem wall on the lakeside was built to create a level footprint for the ground floor. When it came to the actual design, less turned out to be more. 

The kitchen flows out to an exterior cooking and dining area on the lake-facing deck

“The couple shared a photo of a very simple project with a single-pitch roof and lots of glass, and that form and concept became the inspiration for the design,” says Magnin. He used cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels to fabricate a simple shed roofline, which provided structural durability, fire resistance and increased thermal insulation. “It was the perfect application for CLT panels because it’s a single-pitch roof and it creates a thin overhang that expands the entire length of the roof,” Magnin adds. “They complement and tie in the overall architecture of the house between poured-form concrete, steel framing, metal and wood siding, and engineered roofing panels.”

The building’s size was limited by the banked coverage established by the previous house and further constrained by the steep parcel. This meant the design and build teams had to work carefully together to make the most of every square foot, while keeping height and size restrictions in mind. 

Structural steel framing members and large windows were used to offer striking views across the lake. The glazing system and minimal sight lines of the sliders and window frames make occupants feel like they could almost reach out and touch the trees and lake beyond. 

“We specifically chose Awake Windows because they have very slim profile styles and rails on all the aluminum and have the most amount of glass,” says Mark Tanner, president of the eponymous construction company. 

On the first floor, a fully equipped gym with multi-panel stacking doors opens to an 800-square-foot deck, enabling the owners or their guests to turn the entire space into an indoor/outdoor workout facility. Alternatively, the gym can be converted into a games area if the family is entertaining. The wellness theme extends to the bathroom on the first floor, which houses a custom-built four-person sauna. 

The bedroom on the second level treats guests to a spectacular lake view from a large bay window

The kitchen features cabinets with a clear base matte finish, a gray tile floor, Caesarstone countertops and Thermador appliances. A hidden washer/dryer combo was integrated into the cabinetry to allow guests to do their own laundry without adding visual clutter to the space. Rift-cut white oak was used throughout to give the interiors a light, harmonious look.

A stairway in the gym area leads to the second floor, which houses the bedroom and a second bathroom. 

“It’s one of the most dramatic rooms in the house,” says Magnin. “It’s at the highest point in the home and overlooks both the deck and the two piers and lake below and beyond.” 

A tall glass bay window with seating frames the water below and offers the perfect spot to unwind while admiring the lakefront views. The bedroom also has an interior window that provides a loft-style feel to the gym space below. 

Beyond the interior spaces, one of the owners’ main priorities was addressing the lack of a safe pathway to the lake. To solve this, Tanner’s team collaborated with Creo Landscape Architecture to engineer multiple walking paths that link the two residences and establish a new route down to the pier. With the lot sloping steeply from the street to the shoreline, every element of the landscape installation had to be completed by hand. 

“It was extremely labor-intensive,” Jamison says. “The entire project was a rock garden. There were massive boulders and tree stumps that couldn’t be removed and had to be incorporated into paths of travel.” 

Since the pier itself was in bad shape, the team also brought in a subcontractor to upgrade it so the owners could have a launching pad for their kayaks, paddleboards and other water toys. 

A window in the second-story bedroom provides a view overlooking the open gym area below

Estate Landscape oversaw the landscaping plan, incorporating numerous plants in several phases, as well as installing lighting and irrigation that helped tie both parcels together. The property also features an outdoor entertaining area complete with a hot tub, grill and firepit, ensuring the family can enjoy some of the best views in town, all without having to leave the comfort of their own wellness retreat.

Award: Wellness Outlook

Building Design: Magnin Architecture

Builder: Mark Tanner Construction

Interior Design: Magnin Architecture; Mark Tanner Construction

Landscape Design: Creo Landscape Architecture; Estate Landscape

Square Feet: 1,300