Wisconsin-bred designer finds inspiration and industry in the forest
For Roald Gundersen, his personal and professional life collided when he moved back to his native Wisconsin and embarked on a very practical task: He wanted to utilize his architectural design and forestry background to build a low-cost house. In Roald’s mind, there was no better place to look than the forests of his youth. From these natural materials, he completed a home for what he estimated to be roughly $15,000.
But Roald hadn’t simply found an
Paul Kelley photo
economical way to build. He’d also discovered an eco-friendly, sustainable approach to design and construction. QRoald used a whole tree method, and these “thinnings” produced a result far stronger than he could have imagined. ABOVE: Roald Gundersen shares his love for unusual forest finds with his wife, Amelia Following the success of his early struc- Baxter, and their daughter, Estella Swan. ABOVE LEFT: An eyebrow dormer captures a tures, many of which were greenhouses pastoral view at the Angleic Organics Learning Center Roald built in Caledonia, Illinois, for local farmers, Roald now heads up using his whole tree architecture methods. Stoddard, Wisconsin-based Whole Trees the strength and aesthetics of the end ( www.wholetrees.com), serving as CEO product to the ability to more quickly and architect. And business has grown, replenish supply. For Roald, the whole as he now finds himself involved not tree approach remains a practical one. only in larger residences but commercial And others are starting to see why. buildings as well. An approach that at one point seemed somewhat of a practi- Timber Homes Illustrated: Tell us cal novelty is immediately recognized how you got started with this focus. by building inspectors throughout this Roald Gundersen: I grew up in region, and he’s confident the whole tree the forests of Wisconsin, which I think method willspread. instilled in me a passion for forestry Here, Roald speaks to the specific and building with wood. As a child, I advantages of using whole trees, from must have built 20 forts using the forest
materials near our home. After my architectural degree and eight years of architectural office work, I came back to my roots in Wisconsin and built a small passive solar home greenhouse and garden. I used forest thinnings and straw bales for wall and roof insulation; local stone, sand, and clay for finishes. I was looking to redefine my relationships with the things I depended upon in a more sustainable fashion. A process of backyard discovery ensued, where I rediscovered my hands and learned tools as well. I
References:
Archives