Cedar Sanctuary
2022
This one was all about trees. For this custom soaking situation, I worked with the clients to find a perfect site in their backyard, what would connect to their existing deck for ease of use, but also respond to the circular hot tub. We settled on a gentrly curving walkway, stepping up to the cedar tub, providing a wavier experience to match the relaxation they were expecting.
They wanted to honor the memory of a massive grandmother tree that had died and been cut down in their yard the previous year, so we sited the tub where the huge trunk had once stood. There was also a baby redbud that needed space, which defined the curving pathway around it. A pair of extremely productive mulberries stand above the tub, providing us with snacks during the build process, and also staining the fresh cedar boards we were hoping to keep pristine.
To match the curving walkway, I manufactured a pair of curved cedar railings on site. I used the aluminum uprights as a guide to ensure that they would fit exactly. After one night of clamping, I took them back to my workshop for sanding and finishing. I also created two “sunburst” cedar benches for getting in and out of the tub.
All in, the project included water management, foundations, framing, material sourcing, and collaborative installtion.