Childhood Roots Grow up

Objective & Impact:

This project is rooted in a deeply personal design legacy. Jodi Laumer-Giddens’s childhood home was built entirely by hand by her self-taught father. Guided by his hand-sketched design, he constructed the structure, milled the moldings, and crafted the doors, windows, and furnishings himself- an extraordinary expression of ingenuity, patience, and care long before the era of mass-produced convenience.

That legacy inspired a second generation of imagination, experimentation, and collaboration. This Tiny House sits opposite the “Big House,” reflecting a family tradition shaped by hands-on making and a deep connection to place.

Though compact, the house carries a strong sense of permanence and memory. Handmade elements, regional materials, and largely self-executed site work reinforce a quiet, enduring presence within the landscape.

• Craft Legacy Continued through a family-led design and building process grounded in hands-on making.
• Outdoor Living Enriched by siting beneath mature oaks along the river, with thoughtfully designed exterior spaces and an open-air shower.
• Concealed Utility Integrated with hidden chimney panels that maintain interior simplicity.
• Regional Materials Embedded including hand-finished poplar milled from family land and transplanted native landscaping.
• Custom Elements Integrated with built-in storage and hand-poured concrete countertops, sink, and fireplace hearth.