Site
A remote south-facing ridge along the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Wind-driven snowy winters and hot arid summers with occasional brush fires characterize the severe climate. No public utilities were available.
Program
A family vacation retreat offering seclusion and connection to the natural environment. The site is off the grid, so solar electrical generation and energy conservation were critical to the success of the project.
Solution
The V-shaped house is cut into the ridge, allowing for an earth-sheltered passive solar design. The concrete roof and retaining walls allowed the house to be buried under four feet of earth offering insulation in the winter and cavelike cooling in the summer. Concrete overhangs provide snow control and solar shading. Rolling metal shutters serve the dual purposes of forming a second skin which offers additional thermal control, as well as fire protection and security when the retreat is not in use.
Awards & Publications
Sustainable Merit - Award 2010 Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards
Residential Structures Award - 2010 Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards
Honorable Mention - CRSI 2010 Design Awards
Building with Concrete, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 30 April 2010
150 of the Worlds Best Houses, Volume 5 by Robyn Beaver (Australia), 2010
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