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Architect: Patkau Architects Inc.
Project Team: John Patkau, Patricia Patkau, David Shone

Consultants
Structural: Fast & Epp Structural Engineers
Contractor: Ravenhill Construction Inc.

Images
James Dow / Patkau Architects (1-16)
Patkau Architects (17-24)

Recognition

2005 American Institute of Architects National Honor Award
2004 Governor General’s Medal
2003 Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal
2003 American Institute of Architects Northwest and Pacific Region Honor Award
2002 North American Wood Design Honor Award
2001 American Institute of Architects Seattle Honor Award

Description

The house is stretched across the ridge of the meadow, so that it forms a ‘spatial dam’. This dam creates an enclosed forecourt to the house, a ‘spatial reservoir’ which is released through the house to the panorama below, a sea of picturesque fields and waterways. The building section is battered — walls and roof sloped — to respond to the gentle but steady slope of the site. The spatial organization of the house is the result of extruding this section and manipulating it either by erosion, to create exterior in-between spaces that subdivide the house programmatically, or by the insertion of non-structural bulkheads that organize the interior into finer-scaled spatial areas. The structure consists of a combination of exposed heavy-timber fir framing and gypsum board clad stud framing, founded on a simple concrete slab-on-grade. The exterior is largely clad in zactique metal cladding, intended not only to protect the structure from the effects of weather, but also to address the possibility of wildfire in an area not well served by firefighting.

Certifications

Description

The house is stretched across the ridge of the meadow, so that it forms a ‘spatial dam’. This dam creates an enclosed forecourt to the house, a ‘spatial reservoir’ which is released through the house to the panorama below, a sea of picturesque fields and waterways. The building section is battered — walls and roof sloped — to respond to the gentle but steady slope of the site. The spatial organization of the house is the result of extruding this section and manipulating it either by erosion, to create exterior in-between spaces that subdivide the house programmatically, or by the insertion of non-structural bulkheads that organize the interior into finer-scaled spatial areas. The structure consists of a combination of exposed heavy-timber fir framing and gypsum board clad stud framing, founded on a simple concrete slab-on-grade. The exterior is largely clad in zactique metal cladding, intended not only to protect the structure from the effects of weather, but also to address the possibility of wildfire in an area not well served by firefighting.

Location

Size

Client

San Juan Island, Washington, United States

258 sq m / 2,775 sq ft

Confidential

Description

The house is stretched across the ridge of the meadow, so that it forms a ‘spatial dam’. This dam creates an enclosed forecourt to the house, a ‘spatial reservoir’ which is released through the house to the panorama below, a sea of picturesque fields and waterways. The building section is battered — walls and roof sloped — to respond to the gentle but steady slope of the site. The spatial organization of the house is the result of extruding this section and manipulating it either by erosion, to create exterior in-between spaces that subdivide the house programmatically, or by the insertion of non-structural bulkheads that organize the interior into finer-scaled spatial areas. The structure consists of a combination of exposed heavy-timber fir framing and gypsum board clad stud framing, founded on a simple concrete slab-on-grade. The exterior is largely clad in zactique metal cladding, intended not only to protect the structure from the effects of weather, but also to address the possibility of wildfire in an area not well served by firefighting.

The house is stretched across the ridge of the meadow, so that it forms a ‘spatial dam’. This dam creates an enclosed forecourt to the house, a ‘spatial reservoir’ which is released through the house to the panorama below, a sea of picturesque fields and waterways. The building section is battered — walls and roof sloped — to respond to the gentle but steady slope of the site. The spatial organization of the house is the result of extruding this section and manipulating it either by erosion, to create exterior in-between spaces that subdivide the house programmatically, or by the insertion of non-structural bulkheads that organize the interior into finer-scaled spatial areas. The structure consists of a combination of exposed heavy-timber fir framing and gypsum board clad stud framing, founded on a simple concrete slab-on-grade. The exterior is largely clad in zactique metal cladding, intended not only to protect the structure from the effects of weather, but also to address the possibility of wildfire in an area not well served by firefighting.

Description

The house is stretched across the ridge of the meadow, so that it forms a ‘spatial dam’. This dam creates an enclosed forecourt to the house, a ‘spatial reservoir’ which is released through the house to the panorama below, a sea of picturesque fields and waterways. The building section is battered — walls and roof sloped — to respond to the gentle but steady slope of the site. The spatial organization of the house is the result of extruding this section and manipulating it either by erosion, to create exterior in-between spaces that subdivide the house programmatically, or by the insertion of non-structural bulkheads that organize the interior into finer-scaled spatial areas. The structure consists of a combination of exposed heavy-timber fir framing and gypsum board clad stud framing, founded on a simple concrete slab-on-grade. The exterior is largely clad in zactique metal cladding, intended not only to protect the structure from the effects of weather, but also to address the possibility of wildfire in an area not well served by firefighting.

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