Our clients were looking to build their forever home with accessibility, longevity, and connection to the site as top considerations. The site is surrounded by a lush landscape and stunning views. As with all of our projects, the site drives our approach.

Our site-specific process carefully considered the dramatic grade change. The home evokes the feeling of a treehouse. When approaching the home, you enter at grade, but after walking through the entry to the cantilevering deck, you’re six to eight feet above grade. This, along with the thoughtful protection of trees and mossy boulders close to the building, gives the home a treehouse feel.

The linear scheme takes advantage of the views while providing single-level living that engages the site to the south and floats above to the north. Expression of the structure helped to emphasize the lightness of the living wing, outside and in. The piers below are just where they are needed, while the interior exposed beams support the roof structure, providing a clear and open floor plan.

A long bar plan accentuates the site conditions. The entry acts as a joint where the circulation pivots, separating public from private. Circulation occurs within the space along the view side at the living wing while storage and circulation are set to the entry side at the bedroom wing. Precisely placed openings promote ventilation and allow natural light to make its way into all the spaces no matter the weather or time of day.

We specified local materials wherever possible, keeping the house true to its location. We used local Eastern white cedar for the exterior siding, and red birch for flooring and countertops throughout. The plantings and ground cover invite the forest to surround the house, appearing as if it has always been there.

Caterpillar Hill

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