Shoal Bight Residence

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Lopez Island | Washington

The form of the house was derived from a desire to relate all the main spaces to the view and to create simple/clean lines that would be both beautiful and cost effective. To this end we have created a linear home stretched along the view with a simple shed roof that opens up to this view. This form, in many ways, also echoes the longhouses of the Coast Salish people who once inhabited the site. It is both humble and dramatic at the same time. The home is more simple and enclosing on the entry side, and more open and outward reaching on the view side. The splay angles allow for views that would not otherwise be possible and animate the roofline.

After approaching via an old logging road the house is first glimpsed, fitted among the trees, as if it had always been there. The courtyard garden, defined by the ‘L’ of the house, creates an area of order within the naturalism of the site. Access to the house is through this court where the transparent entry first begins to acknowledge the water and mountain view.

Upon entering, the roof lifts upward toward the trees and view and draws one into the great room. A pair of skylight/monitors draw light from the south and from the overcast sky above. A woodstove anchors the dramatically angled point of the space while the kitchen is open and efficient with a walk-in pantry and large, raised counter island with seating.

The kitchen, independent of the roof slope and highlighted in red is echoed by similar elements south of the entry where a corridor, lined with garden view windows takes one to the guest/office and master bedroom. The master is dramatically highlighted by the splayed corner reaching out to the southeastern view. There is direct access to the deck that extends all along the eastern face and includes a future spa.

The home is a compact 1,580 square feet and is planned on a 4’ module in order to maximize material efficiency. The house fits comfortably into the land requiring minimal excavation. By locating in an existing clearing few trees were removed and those were milled into the rustic siding for the home.