Stilting and elevating the residence allowed the primary level of the home to float above the site. The kitchen and living room open to a 360-square-foot cantilevered sunset deck, reaching out to the western views down river and hovering above the ground below. Stepping with the steep slope of the site, the lower-level guest rooms and spa seamlessly nestle into the terrain, leveraging the landscape as a shield for privacy and protection from the natural elements.
Supporting the home above the landscape became an integral characteristic of the architecture and is intentionally expressed by exposing the steel frame on the exterior of the home. Because of the remoteness of the site and the difficulty in constructing the home on a steep slope, the steel frame was designed as a kit of parts, which would be fabricated in a quality-controlled location off-site, then delivered, where the structure could be quickly erected and bolted together. The single sloping roof of the home is designed as a repetitive series of wood beams, which are also precisely fabricated off-site and set atop the steel structure. The design and planning strategy of this pre-fabrication effort minimizes the material waste on-site and reduces the project schedule during construction.
The materials of the residence were selected to withstand the harsh climate conditions of the site. Sheet steel for the exterior siding was used as a hard-candy shell to patina over time, naturally weathering and reducing the need for maintenance. In contrast, the interior of the home is warmed and softened with exposed wood beams and wood interior finishes.
All interior spaces are oriented to the west, taking advantage of the views and natural daylight, while the hillside to the east is used for privacy and protection. A single high clerestory window spanning the length of the eastern façade above the interior stairs allows the home to be passively cooled, reducing the dependency on energy intensive mechanical systems. The roof, which slopes to the west, shields the cantilevered deck from the rain and protects the interior spaces from harsh solar exposure during the summer months. The interior concrete floor acts as a thermal mass during the winter months, passively heating the home during cold winter months.
The house is sited within a nine-lot development community designed to attract outdoor-adventure seekers, while delivering unparalleled comfort and luxury for their custom residential portfolio. This house is currently under construction.
Project team:
Bryan Pendz served as the Project Architect with Ika/Schell Architects, who is credited as the Architect of Record. Construction by MDJ. Structural by CFBR. Mechanical by CEA.