AQUILA
addition (1150 sf) - renovation (550 sf): construction 2023
san juan island, wa
In an open South facing site sits a two story cabin that to put lightly, "needed work." The client fell in love with the funky charm of the existing cabin- so our job was to re-energize it with a cosmetic makeover and an addition to provide a special space for her and her growing family to spend time together. The two story cabin formally anchors the building to the ground and extends up to the sky. The addition contrasts that in its linear sprawl across the meadow, opening up its South side for views and to capture every bit of light and sun it can. Large overhangs and carefully placed windows take aim to draw winter sun and protect from the summer, while connecting the client out to the adjacent tree line. The client's love for Japanese design and planning mixed with a contextual palette of Northwest timber framing and natural materials fused to create the buildings aesthetics. Each room is efficiently sized, cutting down on energy use but providing unique and spatially aware programmatic elements for every facet of her home life. A thin roof is raised off of its timber framed outlookers with custom steel brackets. The thin line of the roof draws back to the horizontality of the landscape and delicately protects the home from seasonal rain and sun. Multiple outdoor spaces tie back into the home to encourage interior-exterior living as well as open the house up to feel the seasons and the solitude of her beautiful 5 acres of San Juan Island.
