Capital House

Inspired by classical monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial at the nearby capital, and the client’s longing for a vaulted roof form, Capital House is at once monumental and cozy, regal and understated. The two-story house is clad in elegant slabs of limestone on the bottom level, rising to extensive glazing on the second story and a curved roof floating above. The house emphasizes scale and proportion. This private and contemplative courtyard respite includes a small bamboo garden and a covered lap pool. The contemporary lines of this modern residence are balanced by neutral tones and natural materials including stone and concrete.

The entrance to the house occurs through a glass and steel vestibule demarcated by a stately oak door with bronze inlays. Upon entering, one immediately arrives in the main spine of the home, with doors and windows leading out to the courtyard on the left, and the kitchen and office extending to the right. The monumental hallway lined with concrete columns terminates in the formal dining and living rooms, which are complemented by a large stone fireplace and dramatic vaulted ceiling in the living area that appears to dissolve into the sky. Upstairs, crossing a bridge leads to the open master suite, with a series of additional bedrooms down the main hallway. The design incorporates several pieces from the owner’s collection of Civil Rights-inspired art, and custom designed furnishings by Jim Olson including tables and a library desk can be found throughout.

Project Team: Jim Olson, FAIA, Design Principal; Kevin Kudo-King, AIA, LEED® AP, Project Manager; Ming-Lee Yuan, Project Architect; Michael Wright, Chad Harding, Trevor Dykstra, Kevin Scott, Architectural Staff; Christine Burkland, Charlie Hellstern, Christina Acevedo, Interior Design.

Contractor: Lifecraft

Civil Engineer: Robertson D. Witmer
Consultant: Tuazon Engineering
Lighting Designer: Brian Hood Lighting Design, Inc.
Landscape Architects: Stephen Stimson Associates, Landscape Architects, Inc.
Structural Engineer: MCE Structural Consultants