Sleeping and bathing spaces are oriented toward more intimate views into the forest and rocky hillside to the north. These spaces take advantage of a north-south cross-slope with views out to the hillside, its reflected light lending a warm quality to these more intimate spaces. The home needed to be economical, durable, and weather well over time. Toward that end, the firm avoided precious or complicated materials and systems and focused on simple utility, which harmonized well with the overall aesthetic. The 1,527-square-foot building form is purposefully simple in expression, with large protective overhangs and south facing clearstory windows providing for winter solar heat-gain. The material palette, consisting of solid-body stained wood, concrete floors and sheetrock: is simple and durable. Site disturbance was minimized, and tree removal avoided, by limiting the building footprint and required excavation. This was achieved through an efficient floorplan and use of cantilevers and point-load columns with minimized footings, poured without excavation on exposed bedrock.
Architecture and interiors: Heliotrope Architects – http://heliotropearchitects.com/
Location: Orcas Island, Washington, United States
Area: 1527 ft²
Year: 2021
Photographer:
Taj Howe – https://www.tajhowe.com/
Sean Airhart – http://www.seanairhart.com/
Contractor: Tye Contracting Inc
Landscape design: Native Landscapes
Cabinetry: Space Theory