Mercer Island, Washington, United States
Hutchison & Maul Architecture
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
The site is very steep, long and narrow – 50’ wide by 400’ long with an average slope of 35%. Located on the west side of Mercer Island, there are panoramic views west towards
Seattle and the
Olympic Mountains beyond. Zoning permitted construction on only 35’ of the 50’ property width, and limited the height of the building to 30’ relative to the slope of the site.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
Exterior terraces and
courtyards are carved into the sloping hillside to facilitate pedestrian circulation throughout the site; to provide natural light throughout the primary levels of the house; and to provide privacy from the neighboring properties. The house consists of two parts: a
concrete plinth which contains utilitarian and less-used spaces; and a hovering wood volume above that contains the private functions of family bedrooms and bathrooms. The resulting space sandwiched between the wood structure and concrete plinth houses the primary living areas, bound by large expanses of glazing that afford views through the open level of the house to the Lake beyond.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
To access the house, one navigates through the series of excavated exterior terraces and stairways, across water features and bridges, then down another stairway, finally arriving at a small exterior glass-enclosed courtyard in the center of the residence. This entry sequence informed the shape of the wood volume as well as the placement and configuration of the concrete
retaining walls. Horizontal wood siding assembled with members of alternating depth enhance the notions of texture, shadow and perspective; contrast with the smooth concrete site walls; and ultimately heighten the journey from driveway to center of house.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, and Eduardo Calderon |
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site plan--drawing Courtesy of Hutchison & Maul Architecture
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floor plan 01--drawing Courtesy of Hutchison & Maul Architecture
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floor plan 02--drawing Courtesy of Hutchison & Maul Architecture
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elevation--drawing Courtesy of Hutchison & Maul Architecture
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section--drawing Courtesy of Hutchison & Maul Architecture
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detailed section--drawing Courtesy of Hutchison & Maul Architecture
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model 01--drawing Courtesy of Hutchison & Maul Architecture
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| model 02--drawing Courtesy of Hutchison & Maul Architecture |
The people
Architects: Hutchison & Maul Architecture
Location: Mercer Island, Washington, United States
Design Team: Robert Hutchison, Tom Maul, Joyce Puri
Landscape Architect: Bruce Hinckley, Alchemie
Structural Engineer: Jeff Albert
Mechanical Engineer: Rainbow Consulting
Interior Design: Hutchison & Maul Architecture w/ Julie Petri
Contractor: EH Construction
Project Area: 623 sqm
Project Year: 2004-2007
Photography: Eduardo Calderon, Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, Hutchison & Maul Architecture
via:contemporist/archdaily
