Sunray Kelley, a long-haired barefoot maverick, has an ambitious goal. His goal is to create an enchanted world from natural materials found within nature - be it his Hobbit-worthy house at his Shire property in Washington state, a temple at Harbin Hot Springs in California or his series of nine-sided yurts; each structure Kelley creates is an original piece of artwork.
At 60, he's accomplished more than anyone could ever imagine in his lifetime. On a nine-acre spread outside Sedro-Wolley in rugged Skagit County lies seven houses; including multi-storied ones featuring wavy roofs with cupolas and spires reminiscent of Miyazaki movies; tiny round cabins built into cedar tree stumps; and even an outdoor treehouse connected by suspension bridges.
Kelley himself constructed many of the structures on his site in the 1970s; however, he has been building off-grid since the 1980s. Kelley states his passion is helping people connect to nature through architecture.
Kelley's approach isn't groundbreaking, but his work stands out for being unique. He says he follows what the materials tell him. The results speak for themselves - their structures showing an unrivalled creative spirit while serving as reminders that when people trust their instinct and start creating something great can happen!
