Wood Block Residence / Chadbourne + Doss

© Benjamin Benschneider
© Benjamin Benschneider

Architects: Chadbourne + Doss
Location: Mercer Island, WA, USA
Project Area: 279 sqm
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Benjamin Benschneider

© Benjamin Benschneider © Benjamin Benschneider © Benjamin Benschneider © Benjamin Benschneider

Located on the west side of Mercer Island, Washington, this house is a reconstruction of one of iconic Seattle architect Fred Bassetti’s earliest designs built in 1962. Fronting a busy street, we wanted to root the house to its sloping wooded site and provide a protective shelter for family life. The plan is opened up allowing for large family gathering spaces and perspectives throughout the full length of the house.

exploded axo
exploded axo
© Benjamin Benschneider
© Benjamin Benschneider

A new metal skin with interior cedar liner wraps over the roof and grounds the house to the site. An aluminum bar grating screen encloses an exterior patio and deck filtering interior views and forming a sparkling and diaphanous wall from the street. The entry approach is redesigned with a cantilevered concrete landing in a sunken courtyard and a 4’ x 11’ pivot door to the interior. Bathing spaces are ethereally bright, smooth and seamless. Materials throughout are natural but installed and crafted in an extremely crisp manner.

Products in this project

Bathroom Equipment: Vola, Hastings, Duravit, Caesarstone, Newform

  • Faucets by Vola
  • Verso 120 sink by Hastings
  • Starck tub by Duravit
  • Interior Counters: 2141 Blizzard by Caesarstone
  • Wellness Minimal shower by Newform

Facades: Western Red Cedar, Blackened Steel

  • Powder-coated steel by Western Red Cedar
  • Interior Pantry Box Cladding by Blackened Steel

Floor: Ipe

  • Ground level Decking by Ipe

Furniture: Boloni

  • Interior Casework by Boloni

Joinery: Fleetwood Windows & Doors , Boloni, US Aluminum, Dorma, Evergreen House, Inc.

  • Sliding glass doors by Fleetwood Windows & Doors
  • Interior Doors by Boloni
  • Entry Pivot Door by US Aluminum
  • Windows by Fleetwood Windows & Doors
  • Interior Sliding Doors by Dorma
  • Skylight by Evergreen House, Inc.

Kitchen Equipment: Gaggenau, Blanco, Sub Zero, MGS Designs, Miele

  • Induction CI 492-600 cooktop by Gaggenau
  • Sink – Precision, Faucet by Blanco
  • 700BR refrigerator by Sub Zero
  • Combo Steam ED 230-630RHD wall oven by Gaggenau
  • Vela Sink by MGS Designs
  • G2470SCVi dishwasher by Miele
  • 736TCI refrigerator by Sub Zero

Mobile Partitions/Suspended Ceilings/Raised Floors: Western Red Cedar

  • Interior Ceilings / Exterior Soffits by Western Red Cedar
Cite: "Wood Block Residence / Chadbourne + Doss" 18 Dec 2009. ArchDaily. Accessed 19 Jun 2013. <http://www.archdaily.com/43938>

19 comments

  19. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    I love this house and the simple materials used throughout. Specially the wood ceilings. What is the casework in the first floor(lower level). Is this an office? or? Also, mention of how the house sited in relation to the busy street makes you want to look at a site plan. Beautiful House!!

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