Lake Cle Elum Residence

Completed by Lauren while employed at Johnston Architects. Lauren was the project architect who managed the project from the initial design phase and worked with the owners and contractor during construction.  Nestled into the hillside of a small cove on Lake Cle Elum, the home is organized into three programmatic blocks—”living,” “sleeping” and “play” and are linked by glass connectors. The blocks were sited in such a way as to protect existing trees while also framing spectacular views. The floor levels step down as the topography drops towards the lake, establishing a physical and psychological connection to the land while also reducing the scale of each block.

To achieve durability and low-maintenance, the exterior is clad in cedar siding, cementitious panels and gabion walls filled with local stone. The color palette of warm grays and rich browns compliment the surrounding site and will age gracefully over time.

In response to warm summers, the home is designed to have deep overhangs and awnings on south and west facades with operable windows and ceiling fans to circulate air. Other passive strategies include orientating the building blocks to provide protection from wind at outdoor living areas. During the winter months, the low-sloped roofs will hold snow and a super-insulated building envelope and triple glazing help reduce heating costs. On the interior, stair treads and flooring will be sourced from local reclaimed lumber, while exposed structure and environmentally-friendly panel products will help reduce the amount of drywall and paint.

Builder: Nine Pine Development
Photographer: Benjamin Benschneider