California-based Studio Bergtraun has completed a holiday home in Tahoe, nestling a simple black volume clad in corrugated metal into the steep landscape.

Alpine Meadows Cabin was completed for a family of outdoor sports enthusiasts in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range.

"The clients desired to create a fun-filled, cozy and informal cabin for family and friends to enjoy for years to come," said the studio, established in 1988.

"This home, while simple in its overall design, blends seamlessly with its surroundings, filled with whimsical details that make it unique and very personal for this family," they added.

The two-storey residence has an inverted layout that matches the site's steep topography. Public areas are located on the upper floor, while the lower storey contains additional bedrooms.

The entrance is on the upper floor, where the architects laid out an open-concept kitchen, living and dining room. Expansive windows open onto the landscape and create an impression of being among the trees while inside.

The western portion of the home encompasses the master bedroom and a small library, separate from the main living space.

"The clients wanted to have a home that could be divided vertically," said Studio Bergtraun. "It could either serve as a 'one storey, one bedroom' home for the couple, or as a full two-storey family home with their kids and future families."

The lower level contains a family room in addition to two bedrooms. Here, the architects included bunk beds for children, which are accessible via rock climbing holds.

This space opens out onto a covered terrace among the trees. Sliding glass walls ensure that residents can easily relax outdoors.

The cabin is clad in corrugated black metal panels. Some walls are set slightly back and have a wooden finish, providing contrasting textures to the winter retreat's exterior appearance.

The interiors feature a multitude of references to local ski culture. These include a chandelier made up of ski poles in the entrance foyer, and an expansive topographical map of the area covering a wall of the family rom.

Also in California, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson has completed a series of ski homes that provide slope-side access for residents. In nearby Colorado, Arch11 has completed a mountain home perched atop a concrete plinth, providing views of the Rocky Mountains.

Photography by Cinematic Digital Media.