Here are some pictures of Ampersand House, a tiny shelter our son, Willy Schlein, designed for us as a writers’ retreat. It’s constructed on a bridge spanning a stream in our back yard. While not a house in the usual sense of the word, it is roofed to protect against the rain, and screened in to protect against mosquitos.
We can use it nine months of the year as a sanctuary, and the built-in benches are large enough so that two people can use it as a sleep-out shelter with sleeping bags.
There is nothing better than an afternoon in Ampersand House with a good book; the noise of the stream below and the birds all around me are delightful. And the nicest touch of all is the metal roof, so that we can listen to the patter on the roof in rainy weather.
Alice Schlein
www.weaverly.typepad.com
Stunning!Only a micro house could be built and enjoyed over a creek like that .The economy of scale in action again.
Guess again. When I was a kid, we went to Anna Texas to visit my grandmother, and the house she was living in was built across a creek. You walked in the front door on one side of the creek, and out the back door on the other side. It was a large two bedroom, but the best part of the house was the sleeping porch on the north side. I loved sleeping out there in the summer. The sound of the water trickling down the creek would put me to sleep so fast.
Lovely, inviting, unique, wonderful!
LOVE it! What a wonderful retreat.
Will bugs get in throught the spaces?
It does look inviting for reading, but I wonder about the bug factor if after dark.
It is totally screened in, including under the floor/bridge, to keep the bugs out!
Thank you – that makes it even better. It is lovely and I can just imagine listening to the water pass under it.
My first impression was that all the windows were glass. Are you saying the openings are all screen, no glass?
Yes, all screen, no glass.
Remember, Nothing could be finer than to be in Car-o-lina in the morning. Or any other time, for that matter! What a beautiful spot! 🙂
What a lovely little house. Great!
It gives new meaning to ‘covered bridge’? It is a really neat place to retreat from it all. Perhaps it could be called a ‘bridge house’? 😉
This looks like a great place. Glad to see you used a metal roof and that you’re happy with it. I have launched an educational website for residential metal roofing at http://www.asktoddmiller.com There are articles to read, podcasts to listen to and videos to watch. And I am always happy to answer questions!
Beautiful! Even the pictures look so peaceful and serene. A real treasure!
Even the back slatted wall is screened? Love this lil’ place though- I’ve seen a few bridge houses/shelters before, but this is one of the more fun ones…. Very nice and congratulations.
Yes, the back wall is screened, too. Lotta screening here. Total insect control. Thanks for your comment – love your book!!!
I know without looking that in addition to the BLUE LINE on the left side, that there is one on the RIGHT side too….. It’s all about being with one with the land ….and creek.
I love it, great idea! It looks soo peacful and unique, i wish i were there!