The artist-client for this house, located on Washington’s Orcas Island, requested an open, simple, low- maintenance design that emphasized and complemented nature and the forested landscape of its site. The hillside site has magnificent views to the west and is populated with madrone trees, firs, beech, thistle, moss, and rocks.

Architect: Gary Gladwish Architecture

Jury Comments:
This is one of the strongest projects we’ve seen. It uses common materials simply and is responsible to place and the client.

This is such a Zen house—it does so much with so little, and it responds to the client’s wishes.