Syndicate Smith has designed this compact modern home of just 1,500 square feet perched on the edge of a steep, wooded slope overlooking the Wenatchee River in Leavenworth, Washington. This vacation home elegantly maximizes the limited construction area. Crafted for dual purposes—retreat and vacation rental—the design prioritizes simplicity and low-maintenance living.
A typical foundation supports most of the house, daringly extending 6 feet over the precipice. The installation of floor-to-ceiling picture windows along this cantilevered facade creates an exhilarating sensation, amplifying the connection to nature. Facing the windows, a board-formed concrete wall ascends from the foundation, anchoring the house to the rugged terrain both physically and visually.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECTURE Syndicate Smith CONTRACTOR Paragon Construction STRUCTURAL ENGINEER BTL Engineering
Horizontal cedar planks, serving as a rainscreen, blend the dwelling seamlessly into the forest. Carefully designed to preserve the natural landscape, the single-story structure remains inconspicuous from the highway, allowing the surrounding scenery to take center stage.
“We wanted to create a beautiful house while letting the landscape shine, and part of it is scale—instead of building a two-story house here, we kept it low-profile so you can completely miss it from the highway.” – Steven Booher, principal architect of Syndicate Smith.
Need To Know:
This three-bedroom, two-bathroom home offers indoor-outdoor living and epic views of the Wenatchee River. Called “The Overlook,” this home can be all yours, as it is available as a vacation rental on VRBO.
What We Love About This Home
This home overlooking the Wenatchee River features clean lines and modern details throughout, with a focus on the spectacular views. A retractable glass wall helps blur the line between indoors and out, creating a seamless connection to nature. The real wood-burning fireplace provides a comfortable atmosphere throughout the seasons, helping you unwind and relax. Overall, we think this home would provide an amazing retreat to get away from it all!
Tell Us: What details do you love most about this
Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other incredible home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Washington: An impressive coastal refuge perched on a hillside in the San Juan Islands and This impressive weathered cedar and glass refuge overlooks the Puget Sound.
PHOTOGRAPHER Will Austin
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