This Orcas Island forest and sea retreat insists on being one with nature
Minimalism, innovation and forest conservation come to mind with this coastal retreat. The Suncrest home, designed by Heliotrope Architects, represents a clever blueprint focused on these ideas. Overlooking the water’s edge on Orcas Island, a part of the San Juan Islands archipelago that sits in the Salish Sea of Juan de Fuca between the U.S. and Canada, Suncrest was built with the goal of respecting the surrounding landscape.
The homeowners had a vision in mind for the build that included a plan for extraordinary views once complete. After sharing these objectives with the team at Heliotrope Architects, the clients gained a gorgeous home that brings the outside in, almost literally, with the structure weaving around the established trees on the lot.
With 26 acres of property, the 3,000-square-foot house makes a small footprint but a much larger statement. Constructed of concrete and wood, the building is modern yet designed to camouflage into the landscape of mature Douglas fir and Pacific madrone trees along with occasional rocky clearings and several small ponds on the land.
According to the architects, “Strict site access protocols were put in place for the duration of construction in order to minimize site disturbance, and the landscape has been carefully restored to a natural state.”
Of course, with a natural location like that, the views should be highlighted, and they are with a long narrow house that provides a view of the sea from every room. The low profile and subtle curves nestle Suncrest into the landscape and the adjacent rocky outcropping.
Inside, the material selections further reflect the sustainable construction goals with a huge, covered, open-air dining, grilling and gathering area. Concrete floors and timber beams create a flowing dining and kitchen area, while built-in organizational units refuse to distract from the forest view in each space.
Photography by Ben Schneider and Airhart via Heliotrope Architects
Written by Dawn Hammon
