Queen Anne Minimalist

One goal for this new 2,500 SF house was to connect as much as possible to nature, as well as be economical and environmentally responsible.

The design features a long, narrow floor plan and compact, rectangular massing to minimize the building envelope and preserve as much of the site as possible for planting. Decks and generous steps mark the transition from landscape to house. When the oversized sliding doors are open, the dining room becomes an extension of the front porch. For privacy, the family can pull sheer drapes on a recessed, overhead track closed.

There are a variety of spatial experiences as visitors move through a two-story circulation space, down two steps into the living room and then out onto a partially covered deck and down two more steps to the lawn. It was important for the family to have what they value most—music, art, and books—immediately evident and at hand.