Blueprints in the Pines: Martis Camp’s Legacy of Mountain Architecture.
John Sather is one of the west’s foremost architects, an achievement that explains why his name ranks high when it comes to designing residential, commercial and community projects across the country. His talents are also called upon in faraway places like Asia, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Mexico. But of all the projects he’s been involved with, nothing compares to that one place he holds closest to his heart: Martis Camp.
“I think Martis Camp is a community that holds the finest collection of mountain homes in the world,” said Sather. “And I’m extremely well-traveled and feel that belief is anything but an overstatement,” he added. In addition to playing a role in designing much of Martis Camp’s main amenities like The Camp Lodge and Family Barn, Sather has also designed more than 20 homes in the community. “Martis Camp is a legacy community where you, as a designer, enter into what I call ‘the power of place’,” added Sather. “Having a piece of your work come to life here is extremely important and just about every architect who has practiced here has risen to the occasion. All you have to do is drive down the road and your mouth drops open. It isn’t about show off architecture or pretense or being ostentatious. It’s a rare sense of luxury that feels grounded, feels authentic, feels timeless.”
Sather is just one of many renowned architects who’ve added to that portfolio of design that’s on display on every street of Martis Camp. When one of the area’s most preeminent architects – Bay Area-based Greg Faulkner – embarked on designing his Martis Camp home, he and his wife chose to collaborate with Tom Kundig, of the Seattle-based architecture firm Olson-Kundig. Books profiling the award-winning Kundig rank as one of the best sellers for the Princeton Architectural Press. More than a dozen projects by him have been recognized by The American Institute of Architecture National Awards, including the AIA Honor Awards. Faulkner’s impressive design influence is on parade at several homes across Martis Camp.
Another example of the caliber of architects whose work can be found at Martis Camp is Peter Bohlin. The world-renowned architect is a co-founder of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and his iconic projects include the Liberty Bell Center, Pixar Animation Studios, and Apple’s glass cube in New York. Whether commercial or residential, Bohlin’s works demonstrate his unique ability to harmonize form, materiality, and environment.
The catalog of nationally and internationally renowned architects who ply their talents at Martis Camp is a deep roster of magnificent minds. Its many visionaries include ZAK Architecture, Swaback Partners, Marmol Radzinger, John Maniscalco Architecture, BMA Architects, and Walker Warner, among 65+ other architects. They’ve all left their marks on the community by designing homes worthy of finding their ways to the covers of architectural magazines.
Even more present and equally impressive are the contributions of the many award-winning locally based architectural firms whose work is abundant throughout Martis Camp and beyond. The proximity of these firms to Martis Camp translates into a wealth of thoughtful details, including an exceptional sensitivity to the rhythms of mountain life. They address critical decisions such as how to orient roofs to best shed snow. They intuitively also understand how a kitchen that catches first light on the peaks of the Lookout Mountain can influence the remainder of the day or how a home should feel at dusk as people head for the firepit on the deck. These relationships to place, people and process make them key contributors to the Martis Camp vision and trusted partners in realizing the aspirations of hundreds of homeowners. The following are just a few of the many accomplished architects that the Truckee/Tahoe area is blessed with.
SANDBOX: Founded in Tahoe City in 2001, SANDBOX is known for its diverse design aesthetic and its meticulous, hands-on approach to each project. From cozy retreats to expansive estates, and from rustic traditional to bold contemporary styles, SANDBOX has crafted award-winning homes in premier locations such as Martis Camp, Aspen, Park City, Big Sky, and Kauai. With in-house engineering and interior design expertise, SANDBOX is ready to help bring your vision to life—beautifully and seamlessly.
MWA, Inc., a 20-person firm with Kurt Reinkens and Kristi Thompson at the helm, provides a concierge-level of service integrating architecture, engineering, and interior design. Their award-winning designs are as diverse as their clients, each a reflection of unique and individual desires sensitively integrated into the environment. The team’s highest values are integrity and creativity with the goal of actualizing low-maintenance projects with long term value, sustainability, and nourishment of the soul.
Walton Architecture, located in Tahoe City, California, provides architectural, engineering and interior design services for custom projects with a broad range of style and scale. Walton Architecture approaches each new project as an opportunity to create an innovative response to our clients’ goals and the project site. Our firm’s work is often noted as being equally unassuming and grand, respectful of the landscape and skillfully blending rugged mountain influences with a clean aesthetic.
W | Y Architects: Aesthetically dynamic and inviting modern homes designed for comfortable mountain living and enjoyment are the hallmark of W | Y Architects. Ingenuity and experience fuels our skills and knowledge of appropriate mountain design and construction. Abundant natural light, interior and exterior connections, clean structural lines, and natural materials used in lasting details appropriate for our rugged mountain environment, are characteristics that ensure our homes express an authentic and contemporary approach to mountain life.
Ryan Group Architects, with founder Scott Ryan and owner architect Ben Garberson, brings a long-standing legacy of timeless mountain architecture. Their philosophy revolves around crafting homes that balance modern livability using warm materials, natural light, and intelligent spatial planning to create spaces that connects the natural landscape to the built environment.
Kelly & Stone Architects (KS|a), led by partners Keith Kelly and Tim Stone, design distinctive homes that thoughtfully respond to and interlace the landscapes they inhabit with the lifestyles and aspirations of their clientele. Their work is characterized by bold architectural volumes paired with inviting, comfortable interiors, often blending regional traditions with a contemporary sensibility. Drawing from a broad international portfolio, KS|a channels a diverse range of influences to create elevated, highly personal experiences for each homeowner.
Dennis E. Zirbel, Architect creates timeless, site-sensitive architecture that blends art, function, and sustainability. With over 250 residences and 18 resort projects completed in the Lake Tahoe/Truckee region, the firm brings deep regional knowledge and refined design expertise. Licensed in California, Nevada, and 4 other states with LEED and NCARB certification, Zirbel specializes in crafting homes that harmonize with the land and celebrate each client’s vision while honoring the beauty and character of the mountain environment.
Together, all these firms represent the soul of Martis Camp’s architectural character – a gallery of innovative mountain homes that reflect not just design trends, but a way of life deeply attuned to the Sierra landscape.
Martis Camp is firmly fixed on the radars of architects who’ve come to recognize Martis Camp as a place where owners and architects can pursue their perceptions of the dream home. As Sather noted about Martis Camp, “It’s been brought to life by a community of architects and designers who’ve come together and really given it their best. And these homes, they live together so nicely because they’re really bonded by nature.”
