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Munsterman Group 8 EMBRACING LAKE TAHOE
With a background in solar engineering, Dale Munsterman and the Munsterman Group, LLC are bringing cutting-edge, energy-efficient technology to their beautifully crafted homes in the Lake Tahoe area.
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by Rachel Goldberg
The homes designed by the Munsterman Group, LLC are tailored to fit their picturesque setting on the shores of Lake Tahoe. But they are ahead of their time in energy efficient technology. Dale Munsterman started out as a home builder, and when he founded the company in 1986, he wanted to use his educational background in solar engineering to design more energy efficient homes. At the time, however, green building was not as popular as it is today. “So I ended up getting pulled into the luxury market,” he said. “But over the years I’ve kept trying to get back to my roots.” He was the first in the region to use insulated concrete forms to build his homes, making them stronger and better insulated. Munsterman is continually exploring alternative methods and materials to make home design more sustainable. He is currently in training with the Passive House Institute US (www.passivehouse.us) for certification in passive house design, which involves a rigorous standard of energy efficiency originally from Germany. “It’s a superefficient method of design where you wind up not even needing a heating system in the home,” he said. He plans on designing more homes in the passive method in the near future. His designs are also sensitive to the local environment. Building in the mountains means high altitudes and uneven topography must be taken into consideration. “We specialize in combining stateof-the-art construction technologies with authentic construction 4 Construction Leaders Today
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EVERYTHING I DRAW AND EVERYTHING I DESIGN CAN BE BUILT, REASONABLY, EASILY AND COST EFFECTIVELY. techniques, creating unique alternative “hybrid” designs in a variety of styles,” the company says on their website, www.themunstermangroup.com. Each one-of-a kind home features local elements like oversized timbers and heavy stone, with an emphasis on traditional craftsmanship. Munsterman is now bringing the mountain style to China in an unusual instance of reverse outsourcing. A Chinese entrepreneur who saw Munsterman’s home designs was so enamored of the style that he hired him to design for a highend resort development outside Beijing. “The interesting thing about China is that there’s virtually no wood in the country,” said Munsterman. “So we’re going to be fabricating the timbers and trusses and a lot of materials like wood floors and decking materials, packing them up, and combining them with their traditional concrete construction methods.” Munsterman’s background as a builder distinguishes him from the competition. Because he can see his designs from a practical point of view, he can balance aesthetics and feasibility. “Everything I draw and everything I design can be built, reasonably, easily and cost effectively,” he said. “I’m not creating something that’s an architect’s dream and a contractor’s nightmare.” Munsterman’s experience also allows him to stay on the forefront of changes in the industry. He has been able to dramatically increase his workload by using digital modeling
software, giving clients a more complete preview of their project. He also plans to continue leading the movement towards green building. “Once that part of the market opens up, once we start doing more superefficient homes and the cost becomes more competitive, people are definitely going to see the benefits,” he said. “I think you’re going to see a big sea change toward the super efficient type of construction. It’s not only where the country wants to go, but where it has to go.” CLT
1. Sloop Residence, Lake Tahoe. A 2.3 acre estate parcel on Lake Tahoe’s north shore is the palette for a unique 3,700 sq. ft. craftsman-inspired residence. A 1,200 sq. ft. guesthouse shares the site, creating an understated Tahoe compound, with an abundance of multi-faceted lakeviews. Photo by Tom Zikas and Open2view. 2-4. Fire Circle Lodge, Marion, Mont. Sporting some of the world’s best fly-fishing, the north shore of Montana’s Little Bitterroot Lake is the setting for this 4,000 sq. ft. mountain lodge style residence. The hand-hewn timber trusses in the Great Room overlook the original fire circle, situated steps away on the lake’s edge. Photos courtesy of the Munsterman Group. 5. Engel Lodge, Lake Tahoe. This 5,600 sq. ft. authentic lodge style residence nestled on Lake Tahoe’s north shore was the first true “log post and beam” home in the region. Photo by Robert Brown & Assoc. Summer 2010 7
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