Blakely Retreat, Main House, —- Blakely Island, WA

Situated in San Juan Island Archipelago, on the Salish Sea, this small home pays tribute to the tradition of steel frame and infill of the case study houses of early modernism. Embracing a sense of floating in the woods, this 1700 SF residence is arranged in two volumes connected by a glass-enclosed bridge: one containing the living, kitchen, dining, and master, and the other guest, library, and workspace.

A sinuous path guides the arrival to the entry and opens to views of Thatcher Bay. The kitchen is the core of the home where cooking seamlessly transitions to outdoor dining on the west terrace. At the east, a spacious bathroom opens to the morning sun. Hardwood decking extends inside and outside for a seamless connection to nature. Open corner multi-slide doors with hardwood tracks frame the expansive water views. Venetian plaster, locally sourced cedar and fir, reflections in mirrors, and translucent curtains create an ethereal palette that is airy and warm.

The careful arrangement of the program is site responsive, considering the delicate rocky ecology of the steep shoreline and the difficulty of getting construction machinery to the site. Inspired by the notion of universality and the particular of the case study, the house will be prefabricated offsite in a shipyard in Ballard. Grid-ordered steel frames are designed to a specific rhythm based on the width of the house and weight limitations. The modules are then transported by sea via barge and lifted onto its minimal point foundation system with a helicopter.

This secluded waterfront retreat takes advantage of the temperate Pacific Northwest seasons. In the warmer months, the sliding doors and full height glass blur the line between interior and exterior, extending the living space to the outdoors. In the windy colder months, the space is warmed by birch plywood and a fireplace, providing a place of refuge for family activities and gatherings.