14 Meant to be

Photo by Stefan Hampden, CAST Architecture

Meant to be

Site-perfect Edelweiss house evolved along natural lines

BY SANDRA STRIEBY

Modern architecture was not what Jeff Watson and Paula Whipple had in mind when they began to think of building a house in the Methow Valley several years ago.

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Drawn by the valley’s cross-country ski trails, they were leaning toward a classic timber frame house, but developed an appreciation for modern design as they toured the valley and learned the advantages of the style. The result is a house that epitomizes the easy relationships between indoors and out that characterize life in the Methow.

Watson and Whipple knew they wanted to be close to the ski trails, and they appreciated the Mazama community and the upper-valley landscape. With those criteria in mind, “it was a matter of finding a property that worked for us,” said Watson.

He and Whipple took the process seriously, spending a couple of years looking at land, visiting houses on the Confluence Gallery and Art Center’s home tours, and learning about the modern architecture they were seeing.

That patience paid off in 2018 when Windermere Real Estate’s Alexis Port showed Watson and

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Whipple a 2-plus-acre lot in Edelweiss — they knew right away that they’d found a good match. The upper end of the sloping lot is in the woods; to the west, a meadow opens to a striking view of Lucky Jim Bluff. That balance of prospect and refuge plays out in both house and site design, creating a sequence of spaces that provide for privacy while taking full advantage of views.

ASSEMBLING A TEAM

During one home tour, Watson and Whipple were drawn to “practical innovations” they observed in a house designed by CAST Architecture, and they included the firm on their short list when they interviewed architects. The couple was impressed by CAST’s design approach and also the firm’s proficiency with remote meetings. Watson and Whipple were living in Oregon at the time, and they knew that meeting virtually would streamline the design process. That decision allowed the collaboration to continue smoothly when COVID struck in 2020.

Stefan Hampden, a principal at CAST and one of the architects of Watson and Whipple’s house, suggested several builders, and the couple selected Bjornsen Construction, inspired in part by Tom Bjornsen’s work ethic, long experience in the valley, and ability to complete projects quickly.

They also appreciated his interest in their project — “he asked some good questions,” said Watson. Bjornsen himself noted the importance of finding a good fit between owners and builder.

“What is important is that people realize that an experience like building a home is … a relationship; [it needs to] bear the test of time [and] emotions,” Bjornsen said. So far, that relationship has weathered a pandemic and related sourcing delays that have postponed completion; the house is now almost but not quite complete.

MARRYING FORM AND FUNCTION

Watson and Whipple brought several design parameters to the table. They wanted to be able to

Photo by Stefan Hampden, CAST Architecture

open their living space to the outside, and have a relationship with the outdoors throughout the year. Capitalizing on views was a priority; windows on the side of the house that faces Lucky Jim were particularly important to them.

Efficient use of space, a single-level floor plan, and the needs of present and future dogs also figured into the mix. Throughout the process, the owners were able to contribute ideas by uploading images to an IdeaBook on houzz (https://www.houzz.com/), where Hampden and Project Architect Sofia Soto could see what appealed to their clients.

In response to Watson and Whipple’s priorities, Soto conceived the

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idea of wrapping the house around a courtyard — a protected space that would be shaded in summer and feel sheltered in winter. The design evolved to include a veranda on the west side of the house — an unequivocally sunny space to relax and enjoy the cross-valley view.

The house’s main living area is a glass-walled great room centered between courtyard and veranda. NanaWall folding glass walls allow nearly unobstructed light and visual penetration, and can be tucked away entirely when weather permits, allowing the interior and exterior spaces to flow into one another, and breezes to move into and through the house.

The rest of the house enjoys plenty of windows, too, and a panel of frosted glass brings light from the master bedroom to the adjoining bath.

CAST’s design relies on several functional qualities of modern architecture — a low-slope roof, broad overhangs and concrete floors contribute to an energy-efficient structure that will stay cool in summer while holding heat in winter. Hampden pointed out that snow held on the roof provides insulation as well as preventing the hazards associated with snow that slides off and accumulates around the house — or forms ice dams that can lead to leaks.

The wide overhangs admit light in the winter when the sun is low in the sky, and keep windows shaded during the hot season. Concrete floors provide thermal mass that will even out diurnal temperature swings in winter and keep the house cool in summer.

Watson and Whipple spoke to their wish for an efficient layout, saying they “wanted to be sure all areas of the house were in use;” that criterion informed the design of both guest room and garage. The guest room features a Murphy bed that can be folded away to create an office and recreational space when guests are not in residence.

In the garage, a workout space will accommodate both a weight rack and aerobic equipment, all of which can be folded away, allowing the couple to configure the area to meet current needs. Translucent panels in the garage door illuminate the space with filtered light.

Among Watson and Whipple’s practical considerations was planning for aging in place. Once they move in, they’ll be full-time residents, telecommuting until they retire. A single-level house where they can live gracefully for decades to come was a high priority. Accommodating their 10-year-old lab and, someday, a puppy was important, too, and resulted in an innovative suite of kennel, run and canine cave for the four-legged client.

The kennel is built into the master-bedroom closet and opens directly to a covered run that’s aesthetically integrated with the rest of the house. Built into the foundation and accessible from the run is an insulated shelter — the dog cave — that can hold a heated bed and has a barn-style door to allow human access for cleaning.

CONNECTING HOUSE AND LAND

Placement was crucial to the outcome of Watson and Whipple’s building project. As the architects and builder explored the site and became familiar with its features and topography, they elected to shift the angle of the house from the position they’d originally planned to “create a gracious entry while getting the house into a comfortable spot,” said Soto. That

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spot facilitates a satisfactory sense of arrival and makes the courtyard more intimate; it’s also enabled the house to be securely settled above the steepest part of the lot without compromising views.

The shift in placement has enhanced the sense of privacy — “coming up from Goat Creek, you see the roofline and not much more,” said Whipple — while at the same time the house is accessible and opens itself to the larger landscape.

The repositioning let the team bring the driveway across a ravine that separates the lot from the road, creating a shorter, more efficient entry route while sheltering the house’s living areas from the lights of arriving vehicles — and fulfilling an unexpressed dream. Whipple said that she and Watson had thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool if we had a little bridge;” the final design gave them “exactly what we wanted and had never told anyone.”

Wildfire is always a consideration in the Methow, and affected both house design and site preparation. Nowhere has the wisdom of FireWise principles been more apparent — the 2021 Cedar Creek Fire swept past and sent embers sailing across the valley toward the building site while the house was under construction.

CAST’s architects chose building materials carefully. “At ground level, we do try to stick with non-combustibles,” said Hampden; in this case, that meant using a limited palette — primarily steel and concrete. Wood appears in less vulnerable places — soffits, cabinetry, ceilings, window and door trims — where it can “introduce warmth to the project while keeping it as protected as possible from combustion.”

Hampden and Soto chose Douglas fir, a material Hampden said he and his colleagues “love using because it’s our regional material.” The team also removed some trees in order the make the site fire safe.

CAST’s design-build roots were an asset during both design and construction, said Hampden, explaining that as one-time contractors, CAST’s founders understand the challenges of bringing a design vision to fruition and “take the responsibility of figuring out how to build it very seriously.” The firm invests time and energy in construction administration and “working with the contractor to make it work.” That approach contributed to the success of the project, said Bjornsen. “They valued our input; that makes it rewarding.” Teamwork, he said, “allowed us to meet the challenges of the design. [It was] not just them telling us how to do it; as a team we figured out how.”

Bjornsen was quick to credit the contributions of local subcontractors to that team. Concrete and earthwork were particularly important in perfecting the complex fit between house and site. Bjornsen brought in Ben Evans (Evans Concrete Construction) and Isaac Buzzard (B&B Excavating) — both practitioners who are “always good to have on board,” according to Bjornsen.

Of the entire endeavor, “it feels like it was meant to be,” said Whipple; “we took our time, found the perfect lot that we liked; everything has just happened.”

Though they’re not yet living in the house, Watson and Whipple spent a weekend there late in January and said the experience was “fantastic” — ”despite not having indoor plumbing [yet].” The heated floors kept their feet warm while the winter landscape warmed their hearts. Theirs is a house where thoughtful and meticulous design coupled with top-notch construction have created comfortable, functional spaces that foster ease at the same time they delight the eye.

“We can hardly wait to have a snow day when we’re living there,” said Whipple. Watson concurred, saying he’s eager to get cozy and “watch it dump.”

Photo by Stefan Hampden, CAST Architecture

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