Nature is full of creatures who can camouflage themselves so effectively that they are completely invisible to the human eye.

Likewise, Johnsen Schmaling Architects have designed Camouflage House in Green Lake, Wisonsin to mimic its surroundings. In the heavily wooded location the house almost disappears from a distance.

While the bucolic setting lends itself to a more rustic house, the Camouflage house is modern in style, material use, and energy efficiency.

The narrow footprint minimizes the house’s volume, and takes advantage of cross-ventilation and natural lighting eliminating the need for mechanical cooling or electric lighting during the day. Johnsen Schmaling also reduced the number of windows to reduce energy loss by placing them strategically as the best view required.

The rainscreen, system skin, and flat roof that when snow builds up acts as a thermal insulator add to the house’s efficiency during the typical Wisconsin winter. Read post in archdaily.