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The sculptural, floating timber stair connects the home’s two volumes. Framed by exposed steel and lit from above, it creates a moment of weightlessness at the heart of the house.

The cedar-clad pavilion hovers above a bluestone base. A covered terrace with a fireplace allows the family to enjoy the outdoors even in colder months. “The stone base with the timber pavilion on top is like what you would see in the forest where you've got stones on the ground and then the trees rising up,” says homeowner Jenn.

the Summerhus

Designed for year-round use, the Rocky Brook weeHouse features covered and exposed spaces for enjoying the outdoors.

The new home’s covered porch takes inspiration from the porch of the 150-year-old cottage shared by the extended family, just 100 yards away from the main home. The porch is designed for enjoying summer sunsets.

The great room includes a U-shaped kitchen island designed for the tradition of family meal preparation. “The joy that the family experiences while preparing a meal together at the U-shaped kitchen island, facing out to the rolling hills beyond, is particularly heartwarming,” says architect Meelena Oleksiuk Turkel.

At the heart of the open-plan living space is a great room that opens outward beneath an expanse of laminated Douglas Fir beams and western red cedar soffiting.

Bertoia side chairs and an Aplomb pendant by Foscarini complete the dining area.

The system’s modules have a set design, but floor plans and finishes can be customized.

The pilot home on Whidbey Island demonstrates the system’s potential: a 600-square-foot interior paired with nearly equal covered outdoor space, set lightly on a pin foundation that protects tree roots and cuts carbon by 77 percent. "Puzzle Prefab can be modified according to each site,

The kitchen—which features cabinetry from IKEA—was one of the more expensive elements of the home. "I chose to invest a bit more in the kitchen to support my passion for cooking,

The drawers in the bespoke kitchen are crafted from solid maple with dovetail construction. The custom dividers keep everything organized and make preparing meals a pleasure.

The back patio and fire-pit area are central entertaining spaces. When the weather is nice, homeowner Joan and Ken wheel their dining room table outside for parties and dinners with friends. The fire pit was built using a steel cut-off from a natural gas tank.

... and when it's open, it's a desk!