Elwha Bluff

Fortunately, the damaged exterior and dismally dark 1970s interior didn’t scare away NMT Financial, who were captivated by the home wrapped around a massive oak tree embedded into the inner courtyard. Oakland-based See Arch was hired to restore the home’s modernist character while updating the dwelling to contemporary standards.

Solar Studio floor plan and section

The ground floor of the bedroom wing includes a sitting room and a master suite. The two kids’ bedrooms are located upstairs.

At the heart of the great room is a custom cabinetry system by Seattle-based Henrybuilt. Covered in laminate with plywood trim, the unit wraps around a powder room and features built-in storage and space for a kitchen on the other side.

The white oak heavy timber framing is left exposed for dramatic effect in the open-plan great room. A minimalist palette of natural materials creates a soothing environment.

On the recommendation of a close friend, the couple flew to Texas to meet the team behind the award-winning architecture firm Lake|Flato, whose Porch House program seemed to offer the perfection solution to the family’s quick-build needs.

The kitchen is equipped with high-end electronic appliances—including an oven, induction plate, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, washing machine, and dryer.

Villa Slow houses two bedrooms that allow for various arrangements—the rental can be set up for couples, families, friends, etc. Each room also comes with its own bathroom.

Eichler’s double A-frame models are rarely available and are highly coveted due to their design and extra square footage. Measuring in at 2,000 square feet—not including the spacious atrium—this model boasts five bedrooms and two full baths. The home also features soaring tongue-and-groove ceilings, expansive glazing, and globe pendant lights throughout.

The interior is primarily finished in clear Douglas Fir that adds warmth and vibrancy to the home.

The cross-axis bridge is faced with full-height glazing to overlook views of the pond.

Privacy was important to the family, but they also wanted large expanses of glass through which to enjoy the trees and pond. The solution was a clever C-shaped courtyard plan that shields the home's open interior.

The double-height living area features unfinished plywood cladding treated with linseed oil.

This house in Singapore was designed to be used without air-conditioning so increased ventilation, coolness and protection from the strong heat and torrential rains were factors that the architect kept in mind when designing the space.

The architect incorporated a central courtyard in the house, an unusual but intelligent design response for the region with a temperate climate.

Saynatsalo Town Hall, designed by Alvar Aalto in 1952.

A view of the central courtyard.

The courtyard deck is also made of tallowwood, a native eucalyptus. White mahogany—a dense timber that is termite resistant—clads the exterior. The sustainably sourced timbers are also fire resistant, a crucial feature in Australia in light of frequent drought and resulting forest fires.

Executing subtle design details, even in transitional spaces, was one of the great successes of the collaborative architect-contractor relationship. "Our collective strength," says Dovetail principal Chad Rollins, is that “we genuinely understand each other’s craft.” In the transition from the den to the artist studio, natural myrtlewood stairs meet a wood-grain Daltile landing. Where the stair treads and risers meet the wall, a three-quarter-inch reveal is placed in lieu of conventional baseboard. These simple and clean details so often “can be costly to create and can be jeopardized when the budget is under pressure,” says Rollins.