Decatur Island Residence

Nestled within the tranquil San Juan Islands, this single-story home is designed to blend seamlessly with its forested, sloping site. The house will step naturally with the slope, creating a series of interconnected volumes that appear to hover above the ground, giving occupants the sensation of floating within the forest.

Natural finishes will blend harmoniously with the surrounding environment, creating a serene and peaceful retreat. The wood-framed structure utilizes structural insulated panels (SIPs) for both the roof and walls. This approach simplifies and speeds up construction while providing a high-performance thermal envelope for enhanced energy efficiency.

Instead of benching the house into the slope, which would require extensive excavation, the home is carefully set into the landscape, minimizing site disruption and avoiding the high costs of removing bedrock. The design achieves its floating effect by balancing a minimal concrete footprint with strategic cantilevers.

This thoughtful combination of structural efficiency, architectural vision, and environmental stewardship is key to creating a modern retreat that harmonizes with its surroundings while maintaining high performance and sustainable building practices.

Currently in design, the project is set to break ground in Spring 2025.