Architectural masterpiece on market

The most published house in Nevada can now be found on the MLS listings.

The Stremmel House, which has appeared in numerous design and home magazines, is on the market for just under $5.5 million.

Owned by Peter and Turkey Stremmel, owners of Stremmel Gallery, the house sits on a hill west of Reno with 360-degree views of the mountains and city. Renowned architect Mark Mack designed the house, and noted Seattle designer Terry Hunziker created the interior.

Mack began designs for the Stremmels in 1993 to occupy the nine-acre site filled with sagebrush and wildflowers. They moved in in 1995.

“They wanted a large, yet comfortable house; one that complemented their lifestyle,” said Mack in the book he wrote about the Stremmel House.

It took 18 months to complete the design and construction process.

Soon after completion, Architectural Record named it House of the Year. Architectural Digest named it one of the top buildings in the world, which also included the Taj Mahal and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.

The Stremmel House went on the market in early June and a Wall Street Journal article quickly drew attention to it, said listing agent Kathie Bartlett with Dickson Realty. A number of people have made inquiries and she has taken a few for showings.

Bartlett calls the home “extraordinary.”

“It’s one of those rare homes that makes you feel good the moment you walk in the door,” she said.

“It’s likely to attract a buyer who’s very interested in contemporary architecture and what it’s like to live in open spaces.”

With 6,515 square feet of living space, the home is expansive, yet still manages to feel comfortable.

“The overall plan (of the home) is deceptively simple, but every wall, window and door relate to some other wall, line or plane in the house,” said Peter Stremmel in a written description of the house. “This design organization is not immediately apparent, but gives a subconscious sense of harmony throughout. The exterior shapes, forms, textures and colors create a dramatic morphology. Ironically, however these forms are not particularly complex, nor does the house feel radical within the vernacular of contemporary architecture. Rather, it is an exhilarating and dynamic construction.”

The Stremmel House features four en suite bedrooms, five full bathrooms and two half-baths, a loft-style library, protected terrace with outdoor fireplace, indoor/outdoor dog kennel, heated lap pool, drought resistant landscaping with mature trees and indigenous plantings.

The kitchen includes poured concrete counters and adjoins a breakfast area with patio and pool access, comfortable sitting areas with skylights, random block ceiling and an aviary.

The master suite has its own patio, dual vanities, steam shower and walk-in closet, adjacent study and exercise area, and 360-degree peak and valley views. A private guest suite has its own sitting area and views of the hills and city lights below.

While the Stremmel House is on the market, Peter and Turkey Stremmel have a new home under construction.

It’s a little smaller and closer to town, Bartlett said.

The new Stremmel House is designed by San Francisco architects Luke Ogrydziak and Zoe Prillinger.

It’s not even complete and it’s already won an award, Bartlett said.