The Field House

Field House

The Field House is located in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains outside the town of Sultan, an hour's drive from the metropolis of Seattle. It is surrounded by open pasture lands supporting an equestrian center and the activities of 50 horses and 20 ponies. Our client, a retired aerospace engineer and avid hiker, is not interested in horses, but fell in love with the site for its openness, simplicity and view of the mountains. He envisioned a thoroughly modern, playful, dynamic house, deeply rooted in the land, with ample opportunity for reading, playing, watching, reflecting and hiking.

At our clients urging, we explored the inclusion of several unusual features:
* An interior courtyard brings the outside in, and bathes the center of the house with daylight.
* An offset grid with acute angles creates a dynamic spatial experiences that enlivens the home from every room.
* Exposed heavy timbers support the roof and recall the areas timber heritage.
* Three unusual porches – one containing an oculus in the roof – provide ample opportunity for outdoor living and viewing.
* An attached 'studio' provides a large space for exploring various hobbies and multiple creative interests.

Taken together, these features conspire to create a building that is essentially a platform for viewing the rise and fall of the sun, the change of the seasons, the coming and going of local storms, and the natural beauty that flows by and through the site.