Project Details

The design for this waterfront home on Lake Washington knits together themes of nature, art and the science of sustainable design. The house is oriented on the site to respond to the sun’s path, site features such as existing shade trees, optimal views across the lake, prevailing winds, and the clients’ intention to actively use the outdoor spaces on and around their home.

With the interior spaces naturally ventilated, the home’s numerous exterior courtyards and terraces will truly provide a connection to nature as the clients expect to open the house to the outdoors for dining, lounging, entertaining, and gardening.

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Interiors

The clients’ relatives from the early twentieth century had commissioned work during the 1930’s from the German expressionist architect Erich Mendelsohn. In designing the interiors of this new home, we found inspiration in Mendelsohn’s architecture and furniture design. The muting and reflective effects of glass play an important role in fostering a feeling of tranquility. A dichroic glass sculpture by artist Ed Carpenter, suspended just below the skylight, projects colored light that traces the sun’s arc across the wall. In the family and kitchen areas, frosted glass cabinetry subtly picks up the surrounding colors and gives off a pale, ethereal glow. Jim Olson designed several custom pieces for this home, including a bronze and mahogany dining table and brushed nickel and fir side tables for the family room.