Orcas Island Retreat home, Washington resort building design, WA rural property images, US architecture

Orcas Island Retreat in San Juan Islands

Contemporary San Juan Islands Real Estate, WA design by DeForest Architects, USA

Apr 18, 2019

Design: DeForest Architects

Location: San Juan Islands, Washington, USA

Orcas Island Retreat

Orcas Island Retreat in Washington

Photos by Tim Bies

Orcas Island Retreat, San Juan Islands

A young couple asked DeForest Architects to help create “a place to share with friends, a place for adventure and exploring, being a kid again, cooking together, experiencing nature and being part of something bigger.”

Orcas Island Retreat in Washington

The result is a long-term plan for “restoring the soul of the property” including designing this main house, renovating a number of existing cabins, and generally creating a more sustainable landscape and building infrastructure for future generations.

Orcas Island Retreat in WashingtonOrcas Island Retreat in Washington

A young couple with an extended group of friends, all ready to start families, that wanted to have a place to retreat and spend time together, a place where they could build a tradition with each other.

Orcas Island Retreat in Washington Orcas Island Retreat in Washington

Orcas Island Retreat in Washington

They wanted a place to share with friends, a place for adventure and exploring, for being a kid again, for cooking together, experiencing nature and being part of something bigger than themselves.

Orcas Island Retreat in Washington Orcas Island Retreat in Washington

Orcas Island Retreat Washington – Building Information

Design: DeForest Architects

Interiors: NB Design Group
Landscape: Allworth Design

Completion date: 2017
Building levels: 3

Orcas Island Retreat in Washington

Key products used:
The choice of materials was made to fit the palette of the landscape and evoke the traditional farmhouses and cabins of the islands, but with a modern take that fits the freshness of the clients and that would serve them for generations to come.

Stained cedar siding – durable, tactile, natural, sustainable
Salvaged wood siding – siding with a story (salvaged from snowfences and old barns, weathered from its previous life), sustainable
Natural stone from BC – natural, tactile, sustainable (not shipped halfway across the world), had longevity and “grounds” the building
Lots of glass for a strong connection to the landscape
Metal roofing – durable
End-grain wood flooring – durable and resilient, with a natural variation

Orcas Island Retreat in Washington

Photography: Tim Bies

Orcas Island Retreat in Washington images / information received 180419 from DeForest Architects USA

Location: San Juan Islands, Washington, United States of America

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