Sustainable Hill House in Washington with Natural Landscape

July 10, 2010 By: admin Posted in: House Design

This sustainable house design is very simple, created by David Coleman Architecture situated on a long, narrow, rocky hillside, near the town of Winthrop Washington. The building reads and lives like a habitable landscape, adapting to the changing seasons and needs of its occupants. In short, this is a modest, sustainable building with a big presence in a big landscape. Constructed with a 20’ wide x 115’ long stepped platform, some sustainable materials and features are also become added values. Recycled steel, sustainably harvested wood, BIBS insulation in oversize wall and ceiling cavities, on-demand hot water, low-flow fixtures and convection heat are all employed. In summer, roofs and walls are vented to dissipate heat, and large overhangs, combined with seasonally-deployed, exterior sun shades (made from the same fabric used to shield fruit trees on nearby orchards) protect the glass from summer sun.

Interior and exterior functions are delineated by a glass wall that wraps three sides of the structure. Finish materials are common throughout, blurring the line between inside and out. The east wall cuts into the land like a rusty blade, evoking the cultural history of the mining encampments found in the area and providing privacy from the adjacent country road. It offers a defensive backdrop when viewed from the interior and, combined with the shelter provided by the roof, and warmth provided by the wood stove/fire pit, lends a primordial feel to the building that is unexpected in this thoroughly modern structure.

Gabion stone walls bridge between building and landscape, offering retaining, context and privacy. Construction waste was dramatically reduced by incorporating these walls, which are made from the spoils of the building’s excavations.