Atop a high ridge in a densely wooded 'Outer Cape' area of Cape Cod, the architects designed a four-bedroom residence offering both long, unobstructed vistas and passive cooling from the breeze.
For a family of five, the designer and architect sought to gut and renovate a building that had been partially converted from a 5,500-square-foot church to a residential space, preserving historic elements of the existing structure while updating the home with modern conveniences.
On the site of an 850-square-foot cottage from the early 1900s, the architects sought to create two new compact, modern, single-family homes in an architecturally conservative area.
The owners wanted a compact single-family home on a sloping site that would afford views of the natural surroundings, including Lake Washington and Mount Rainier.
Situated in a shady coastal enclave, the residence needed to satisfy the clients' desire for panoramic views while capturing as much sunlight as possible to illuminate and warm the structure.
Site Size: 2,333 square feet Project Size: 1,023 square feet Program: The architects sought to create a unique two-bedroom residence for a family of four. Location: The house is located on the corner of a suburban Kyoto street. Solution: The architect drew inspiration from the tale of 'The Blind Men and the Elephant' in developing the house's diverse material palette. The story describes how, when you touch an elephant in darkness, you could feel a tree trunk, snake, fan, etc. Similarly, the house would provide a variety of sensations for its residents. The exterior of the squat, gabled structure is