Olson Kundig Architects have designed this modern nature inspired home, located in Woodway, a city in Snohomish County, Washington. Home to an active family of five, this dwelling inhabits a series of planes that float above a restored meadow.
Blurred boundaries throughout the home’s glass pavilions allow activity to flow easily between inside and out, fostering and celebrating connections to the surrounding environment. The home’s quiet architectural character respectfully defers to this natural context and enables the home to sit lightly on its site.
The dwelling’s quiet neighborhood-facing side directs the energy of the home toward the landscape. A circular driveway provides ample parking, while an attached garage preserves space for the family to collaborate on projects and work on their unconventional car collection.
The tactile Cor-ten steel entry door opens to reveal framed views through the house to the garden beyond, establishing the home as a perch for experiencing the landscape. This central entry sequence opens onto a long circulation spine that links the main gathering pavilion at the north and the more intimate southern bar.
The main pavilion, anchored by a steel-framed hearth, functions as the heart of this home. Here an open kitchen, dining, and living room welcome large and small gatherings and a built-in pizza oven highlights the family’s love of food and entertaining.
Meandering through old-growth Douglas firs and cedars, this home’s south wing steps down from the main pavilion to follow the site’s gentle slope. West-facing slot windows throughout the central connecting spine capture the site’s dynamic quality of light and display shifting patterns of sun and shadow.
Hidden behind panel doors, the main bedroom suite can recede from the activity of the central gathering space while enjoying additional views and access to the site, an oasis within the landscape. Sliding glass doors seamlessly extend the pavilion to a series of decks, terraces, gardens, and pathways. Generous roof overhangs allow continuous use of these outdoor living spaces even during the rainy season.
What We Love: This modern nature inspired home provides expansive walls of glazing that take advantage of this home’s woodsy setting. The interiors showcase clean lines and sleek details that are easy to maintain. We love how the design of this home encourages outdoor living. Surrounded by the beauty of nature, one could feel quite relaxed here while soaking in the zen-like views from the expansive deck.
Tell Us: What details in the design of this home did you find most interesting and what would you change? Let us know in the Comments!
Note: Have a look at a couple of other popular home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the state of Washington: A 1910 Colonial Revival style house gets a stunning makeover in Seattle and Midcentury ranch-style house gets inspiring transformation in Seattle.
Extensive glazing frames views to the surrounding meadow, forest, and wetlands, while full perimeter clerestory windows further harvest daylight, a precious resource in the Pacific Northwest.
The southern pavilion features additional bedrooms opening onto a central den and gathering space, underscoring the importance of family connections. Framed views and direct access to a landscaped patio further the emphasis on indoor/outdoor living established in the main pavilion.
PHOTOGRAPHER Aaron Leitz
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