SPG Architects

njiric

another quality web candy - for your surfing pleasure...
http://www.njiric.com/
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daniel marsh architect

Glass House Mountain House

I've seen several blogs by home owners but never one that has been so diligently pursued throughout. A fastidious diary of the design and construction of a personal residence in Maleny, Australia - which includes web links to all those involved in the construction (right down to the company doing the steel shop drawings).

Designed by Bark Design Architects (http://www.barkdesign.com.au/)

Many thanks to Robert Hadley!

feldman ARHITECTURE

another quality web candy - for your surfing pleasure...
http://www.feldmanarchitecture.com/
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Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio, Inc.

another quality web candy - for your surfing pleasure...
http://www.gastudio.com/
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Grosfeld van der Velde Architects

see also: Contemporist

Garret Cord Werner LLC

another quality web candy - for your surfing pleasure...
http://www.garrettcordwerner.com/

Wilkinson King Architects

PM-ARQ

another quality web candy - for your surfing pleasure...
http://www.pm-arq.com/

HELIOTROPE ARCHITECTS

SUNCREST RESIDENCE

This new residence is located on a pristine site comprised of a mature douglas fir and pacific madrone forest, with occasional rocky clearings and several small ponds. The site is ecologically sensitive, with bald eagle nests and trees prone to blight if disturbed. Further, soil coverage is minimal over the native basalt, therefore stormwater management is a serious concern. Our clients desired a work of architecture that took into consideration these constraints and minimized site impacts while creating a work of architecture that utilized their favorite materials (wood and concrete) and connected them intimately with the land and the view. The home is situated where the forest gives way to a large rocky clearing with views to the sea. The structure is ‘wrapped’ around a prominent outcropping of rock and carefully situated to require a minimum of tree removal. The long, narrow footprint of the home allows every room a view of the sea while also retaining a strong connection to the surrounding forest. Strict site access protocols were put in place for the duration of construction in order to minimize site disturbance, and the landscape has been carefully restored. To eliminate stormwater issues, rain leaders have been piped to a nearby pond for natural filtration and dispersion. Where this was not possible due to grades, a garden roof was utilized to slow runoff.

Project Location: Orcas Island, Washington

Contractor: Ravenhill

Square Footage: 3,000 sq. ft.Completion: 2009

Photography: Ben Benschnieder

Many thanks to Joeseph at HELIOTROPE for the images and project desciption...

HELIOTROPE ARCHITECTS

NORTHBEACH RESIDENCE

This residence is located on a northwesterly oriented beach fronting the Strait of Georgia. The site includes many second-growth douglas firs, a beech grove and a grassy meadow with good solar exposure. For over a thousand years this site was a summer camp location for the Lummi Indians, and due to its archeological significance no footing excavation could take place on the site. Further, its location in a federally designated flood plain required that the structure be raised off the ground several feet. The design brief called for a very low-impact, easy to maintain summer home that provides necessary programmatic functions with minimum distractions from the land and the view. The design response situates the structure among the trees directly between the beach and the meadow, with walls of glass opening out to both. Steel columns minimize visible structure from the interior, while metal-clad wall elements provide a bold form when seen from the exterior. A matt-slab is utilized to avoid excavation, and the foundation recessed to minimize the footprint. The roof is vegetated, which filters rainwater that in turn is collected and stored for use in irrigation. Potable hot water and hydronic heating are aided by solar collectors on the roof, and PV panel s above the vegetable garden provide supplemental electricity. The home is intended for occupancy from May through October, and systems have been designed to zero out electricity use over the course of a full year.

Awards: Merit Award – 2009 AIA Honor Awards for Washington Architecture

Location: Orcas Island, Washington

Contractor: David ShoreBuilding area: 2,400sf

Completion: 2009

Photography: Benjamin Benschneider