Nestled within the tranquil landscape of the San Juan Island archipelago, this single-story modern retreat is meant to blend seamlessly with its forested, sloping site. The design emphasizes tranquility, relying on a  thoughtfully-restrained aesthetic and utilizing natural finishes to blend harmoniously with the surrounding environment.

Rather than benching the house into the slope, which would require extensive excavation of the bedrock beneath, the house will step naturally with the slope, creating a series of interconnected volumes that appear to hover above the ground. By balancing a minimal concrete footprint with a series of strategic cantilevers, the design achieves the feeling of floating in the forest while also addressing key factors of affordability and environmental impact.

A smaller island in the chain, Decatur Island does not offer ferry service.  This presents challenges related to access, staging and means.  To address some of the site challenges in collaboration with the contractor, the structure will be predominantly wood-framed, utilizing structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the roof and walls. This approach both simplifies and expedites construction.  SIPs also provide a high-performance thermal envelope for enhanced energy efficiency.

A thoughtful combination of design, efficiency, and environmental stewardship, the Decatur Island Retreat is currently in the design phase. The project is set to break ground in early Spring 2025.