Custom Residential
An Island Nest
Explore the avian inspiration behind the design for this contemporary home on Mercer Island. With an exterior envelope designed based on “Passivehaus” principles, radiant floors, and a smart natural ventilation approach, this house creates a comfortable, allergy-free environment. Construction is scheduled to begin in April of 2015, so check back for photos of the finished house!
March 17, 2015
Mercer Island is the playground for more than 130 species of birds. From the tiny hummingbirds sucking nectar from garden flowers to the majestic ospreys and bald eagles that hover high atop the Island, many birds have chosen to make this beautiful urban island their home, to build their nest and to raise their families.
With its natural beauty, great residential neighborhoods, successful school district, and easy access to both Bellevue and Seattle, Mercer Island is also a favored location for our species, to settle and build a nest.
When we were approached by a family planning to build a new home in Mercer Island, in which to raise their two young children: inspiration came naturally.
We separated the house into two wings that lift up; ready to take flight! The two wings were then stitched together with a circulation core, embellished with a steel staircase and large windows capturing the views. Creating two wings allowed us to separate the public activities from private spaces. While the North Wing of the house accumulated cooking, playing, working and entertaining, the South Wing included all the sleeping areas.
The contemporary shape was situated on-site to utilize the precious Northwest daylight optimally, and to maximize the incredible views: Lake Washington and the Seattle skyline to the West, and the Bellevue skyline and the Cascade Mountains to the East.
On the exterior, we experimented with different siding materials, such as Silbonit (an easy-to-maintain integral colored cement panel system), turned the metal roofing down on the South wall to ground the house, and brought warmth to the composition with clear cedar horizontal siding accents.
Four-foot tall sacked concrete walls slice through the front yard creating an entry with privacy, acting as a neutral backdrop for the planting strip. The Westerly gardens include a private seating area where the afternoon sun will shine, and a vegetable garden to the South. The Eastern garden is sheltered from the street with mature shrubs, hence providing the perfect family backyard.
Natural wood, hot rolled steel, and white stone were blended harmoniously to create a calm and modern interior palette. With an exterior envelope designed based on "Passivehaus" principles, radiant floors, and a smart natural ventilation approach, this house provides a comfortable, allergy-free indoor environment for its occupants.
Construction is slated to start in April 2015. Can’t wait to share finished work!
Update:
Check out the finished project in our portfolio!
