The Berm House

The Berm House is built into a meadow slope. Its low profile opens to the valley panorama of mountains and agricultural fields while remaining virtually invisible from the residential area to the north. The south-facing building orientation optimizes passive heating, and the large overhang protects from snowfall and intense summer sun. The home is post and beam structure with a cross-laminated timber (CLT) roof, prefabricated in northeastern Washington.

The design incorporates Passive House principles including superinsulation and advanced air sealing. Thermal bridges are minimized by wrapping the house in continuous external insulation, including under the foundation, isolating the home from outdoor temperature swings.

The material palette is predominately warm woods. The CLT ceiling, glulam posts and beams, maple plywood panels, dark hickory casework, and a coffee table and kitchen bar crafted from a fir tree felled nearby present a variety of character and species. The gray slate floors correspond to the coloring of the surrounding mountain faces. All the fixtures are blackened as a unifying element.

The exterior employs the Japanese shou sugi ban preservation technique. The boulders throughout the site and as part of the berm were pulled from the site and placed by the owner.