STEP
HOUSE
HOUSE
new residence (2400 sf) : under construction
san juan island, wa
A beautiful rolling landscape provides Step House it's formal and planning concepts. The building site has nearly 9 feet of elevation change from North to South, thus creating the buildings design strategy- A two story home is dissected and separated at the floorplate. Level 2 is then moved independently uphill from level one, isolated 9 feet higher uphill on the site. These two isolated levels are then connected via a set of stairs that move down the hill and transition with a mezzanine entry level. This division leads to two primary zones- an upper zone for the families private activities and a lower zone for family and entertaining space. The private program is uphill and to the North, taking advantage of soft light and privacy from the road and neighbors. The public program sits downhill to the South, providing a direct connection to the flat land of the property, promoting interior-exterior living and maximizing solar gain where the family spends the majority of their time.
Formally, the home is a series of exposed concrete retaining walls cascading down the hill that provide the foundation for the three floor plates above. The two primary levels and joining stairs are covered with a single pitch shed roof, mimicking and drawing attention to the slope of the site. The stairs are bisected by a mezzanine entry level, allowing tenants to move to either zone of the house upon entry. A charred cedar facade aesthetically plays off of the shadows of the surrounding forest, and the charring replaces the need for chemical sealants with a natural weather barrier. A concrete slab in a South facing great room acts as a thermal mass to ease energy demands on the in floor radiant system, and collects the low angle winter sun.
Formally, the home is a series of exposed concrete retaining walls cascading down the hill that provide the foundation for the three floor plates above. The two primary levels and joining stairs are covered with a single pitch shed roof, mimicking and drawing attention to the slope of the site. The stairs are bisected by a mezzanine entry level, allowing tenants to move to either zone of the house upon entry. A charred cedar facade aesthetically plays off of the shadows of the surrounding forest, and the charring replaces the need for chemical sealants with a natural weather barrier. A concrete slab in a South facing great room acts as a thermal mass to ease energy demands on the in floor radiant system, and collects the low angle winter sun.
