IN THE BEGINNING...
...there was a site on a hill with a VERY large spruce tree and there was an architect, Charlie Brown, and a landscape architect, Sue Donaldson, who wished to build a house.
Alas, the spruce had to be felled and the story of that and the ensuing house construction can be found at www.webprints.blogspot.com, starting '2008 March "Charlie Brown was my design..."'
What follows here comes from my visit 2013 April 06, first time in almost two years.
Alas, the spruce had to be felled and the story of that and the ensuing house construction can be found at www.webprints.blogspot.com, starting '2008 March "Charlie Brown was my design..."'
What follows here comes from my visit 2013 April 06, first time in almost two years.
Yes, the spruce is gone, replaced with the house, and the construction road is gone, replaced with a gravel drive. Landscape material has been planted, and net-fencing attemps to restrain the deer and elk from munching on it. The large window faces south, admitting light to warm the concrete floors. The polycarb. panel roof, floating above, has had lots of chances to harvest rain water.
On the east side are the stairs from the ground level, to the first and second levels. Rocks have been placed below the gutter above which drops the rain water collected to a cistern below.
From the northeast corner, a glimpse of the back patio with its gabion retaining walls.
The north wall's gentle curve clearly shows the "board and fin" siding, while the adjacent "core" wall shows the horizontal "board and batten" siding.
From the southwest, the west wall's plain siding awaits a more decorative treatment, with the south "core" wall and "engawa" wall show sidings similar to the north wall.
Entry to the first level is through the door ahead. The "walk-in" closet on the left can be closed off with sliding doors which slip into the "core" wall.
The edges of the slding doors can be seen on each side of the opening.
A small table looking to the wooded hillside provides a quiet nook within which one can sketch or write or just doodle.
Looking the other way (west) the closet is on the right, and the hall to the bath room is straight ahead. The disconnect between the two window views is not as obvious here as it is...
...here, looking down the other hall to the bath room. On the right we see a view of water, yet on the left, that of a neighbor's house.
Upon walking to the window on the right, one finds is a mirror on a hinged panel, which has behind it the doorway to the bathroom.
The compact bathroom has some mirrors which also play with one's perception of the spaces.
Back in the main area, closet behind, bed area in the middle, and multi-purpose study/studio space beyond. It too can be closed off with sliding doors within the "core"wall.
Upon entering the second level, the skylight brings light into the central space.
Furniture is arranged to take in that which the site was chosen for:
.....it's view of the Salmon River Estuary and the Pacific Coastline beyond.
Looking back towards the entry reveals the kitchen strung along the curved north wall.
It too can be closed off with sliding doors.
A push of a red door unlatches it, revealing....
...the contents behind: in this case drawers of cutlery and cooking utensils.
SO, what's next?
SO, what's next?
the elevator ! Yes, enough of hauling groceries (to say nothing of furniture) up those exterior stairs. It is time to fill this shaft with a lift. It's ready to go, but turmoil in the residential elevator industry has set it back a bit. But it was down to double checking as-built dimensions prior to final ordering which took me to the Cloud House this time. More when it gets installed.
