Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

Tony Soluri

This custom home built above an existing commercial building was designed to be an urban loft. The firewood neatly stacked inside the custom blue steel metal shelves becomes a design element of the fireplace. Photo by Lincoln Barber

Russell Abraham

Coastal Comfort

Sited on a runway with sweeping views of the Colorado Rockies, the residence with attached hangar is designed to reflect the convergence of earth and sky. Stone, masonry and wood living spaces rise to a glass and aluminum hanger structure that is linked by a linear monolithic wall. The spatial orientations of the primary spaces mirror the aeronautical layout of the runway infrastructure. The owners are passionate pilots and wanted their home to reflect the high-tech nature of their plane as well as their love for contemporary and sustainable design, utilizing natural materials in an open and warm environment. Defining the orientation of the house, the striking monolithic masonry wall with the steel framework and all-glass atrium bisect the hangar and the living quarters and allow natural light to flood the open living spaces. Sited around an open courtyard with a reflecting pool and outdoor kitchen, the master suite and main living spaces form two ‘wood box’ wings. Mature landscaping and natural materials including masonry block, wood panels, bamboo floor and ceilings, travertine tile, stained wood doors, windows and trim ground the home into its environment, while two-sided fireplaces, large glass doors and windows open the house to the spectacular western views. Designed with high-tech and sustainable features, this home received a LEED silver certification. LaCasse Photography

Contemporary second floor den Photo by Stephani Buchman

Willoughby Way Great Room with Massive Stone Fireplace by Charles Cunniffe Architects http://cunniffe.com/projects/willoughby-way/ Photo by David O. Marlow

Aaron Leitz Photography

With a compact form and several integrated sustainable systems, the Capitol Hill Residence achieves the client’s goals to maximize the site’s views and resources while responding to its micro climate. Some of the sustainable systems are architectural in nature. For example, the roof rainwater collects into a steel entry water feature, day light from a typical overcast Seattle sky penetrates deep into the house through a central translucent slot, and exterior mounted mechanical shades prevent excessive heat gain without sacrificing the view. Hidden systems affect the energy consumption of the house such as the buried geothermal wells and heat pumps that aid in both heating and cooling, and a 30 panel photovoltaic system mounted on the roof feeds electricity back to the grid. The minimal foundation sits within the footprint of the previous house, while the upper floors cantilever off the foundation as if to float above the front entry water feature and surrounding landscape. The house is divided by a sloped translucent ceiling that contains the main circulation space and stair allowing daylight deep into the core. Acrylic cantilevered treads with glazed guards and railings keep the visual appearance of the stair light and airy allowing the living and dining spaces to flow together. While the footprint and overall form of the Capitol Hill Residence were shaped by the restrictions of the site, the architectural and mechanical systems at work define the aesthetic. Working closely with a team of engineers, landscape architects, and solar designers we were able to arrive at an elegant, environmentally sustainable home that achieves the needs of the clients, and fits within the context of the site and surrounding community. (c) Steve Keating Photography

Designed by Pat Manning-Hanson, ASID Photographed by Jill Greer

The Peaks View residence is sited near Wilson, Wyoming, in a grassy meadow, adjacent to the Teton mountain range. The design solution for the project had to satisfy two conflicting goals: the finished project must fit seamlessly into a neighborhood with distinctly conservative design guidelines while satisfying the owners desire to create a unique home with roots in the modern idiom.

 Within these constraints, the architect created an assemblage of building volumes to break down the scale of the 6,500 square foot program. A pair of two-story gabled structures present a traditional face to the neighborhood, while the single-story living pavilion, with its expansive shed roof, tilts up to recognize views and capture daylight for the primary living spaces. This trio of buildings wrap around a south-facing courtyard, a warm refuge for outdoor living during the short summer season in Wyoming. Broad overhangs, articulated in wood, taper to thin steel “brim” that protects the buildings from harsh western weather. The roof of the living pavilion extends to create a covered outdoor extension for the main living space. The cast-in-place concrete chimney and site walls anchor the composition of forms to the flat site. The exterior is clad primarily in cedar siding; two types were used to create pattern, texture and depth in the elevations. 
 While the building forms and exterior materials conform to the design guidelines and fit within the context of the neighborhood, the interiors depart to explore a well-lit, refined and warm character. Wood, plaster and a reductive approach to detailing and materials complete the interior expression. Display for a Kimono was deliberately incorporated into the entry sequence. Its influence on the interior can be seen in the delicate stair screen and the language for the millwork which is conceived as simple wood containers within spaces. Ample glazing provides excellent daylight and a connection to the site. Photos: Matthew Millman

The interiors of this residence are a direct reflection of the architecture, scenic views, and the homeowner's personality. The floor plan for the main living spaces is open, with extending wings for private spaces. Photographer: Gil Jacobs, Martha's Vineyard

Living Room : Photography by Eric Roth Interior Design by Lewis Interiors Every square inch of space was utilized to create a flexible, multi-purpose living space. Custom-painted grilles conceal audio/visual equipment and additional storage. The table below the tv pulls out to become an intimate cafe table/workspace. Every square inch of space was utilized to create a flexible, multi-purpose living space. Custom-painted grilles conceal audio/visual equipment and additional storage. The table below the tv pulls out to become an intimate cafe table/workspace.

Flicky Wallace