teh

We met this family of four in 2008, clicked, and embarked on a several year journey to build their new home, aka "the eventual house" or Teh.

Teh sits in a neighborhood of mid-century ranch homes. Doors are left open. Kids play in the street. There is a view of Mount Rainier and Lake Washington to the south. Our clients wanted to connect to both the neighborhood's energy as well as the lot's expansive views. So, we rimmed the main floor with floor to ceiling windows and large sliding doors to connect the front and back yards.

The main floor is encased in black wood siding while the cantilevering upper floor is clad with white stucco. The two tone dichotomy was intended to emphasize the home’s horizontality and minimize its street-side scale. That dichotomy continues into the building interior, where the main floor's open spaces are grounded in darker finishes while the upper floor bedrooms are kept light. Clerestory windows, skylights and interior glass panels bring additional light into rooms where privacy is needed.

The project has several energy efficient features including an electric vehicle charging station, solar panels, and radiant heating.