Brook Bay Residence, Mercer Island House, Lake Washington Dwelling, US Residential Property Photos
Brook Bay Residence, Mercer Island
Seattle Residential Development, Washington, USA design by Rick Sundberg Architect
Dec 20, 2017
Brook Bay Residence on Mercer Island
Design: Rick Sundberg, Principal-in-Charge and Lead Designer while at Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen (Rick is now a Principal at Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young (SKL) Architects in Seattle)
Location: Mercer Island, King County, Washington, USA
Brook Bay Residence
Photos: Benjamin Benschneider
Nestled into a Mercer Island hillside, across Lake Washington from Seattle, this intimate two-story residence emphasizes craft, materiality, and connection to the outdoors.
The clients’ desire for privacy from neighbors is achieved through the home’s protective, L-shaped design.
A cantilevered wing—containing the master bedroom—aligns with the adjoining property and screens the rest of the house from view to create a private refuge within the L.
The cantilevered element captures focused views of Lake Washington.
Dark-stained cedar siding wraps the exterior of the private areas of the 4,400-square-foot house, including the master suite. Public spaces are clad with copper panels, which have developed a rich patina.
Inside, an open primary living space is wrapped by a band of clerestory windows that bathe the interiors in balanced light.
The design also carves cozier, more intimate areas within the larger space by integrating such features as lowered ceilings and a blackened, steel-faced fireplace that forms an inglenook in the corner of the living room.
Wood casework and ceiling plane surfaces ensure the overall aesthetic is warm and inviting.
The master suite—which comprises the bedroom, an adjoining office rendered in walnut, and a spa-like bathroom encased in limestone and eucalyptus cabinetry—provides a soft retreat.
Private spaces provide a contrast to the blackened concrete floors and granite of the public spaces. “It’s about thinking where you are during the course of the day and how we can make you feel more calm or comfortable,” notes the architect.
Collaborations with local craftspeople can be found throughout the home—from entry and interior doors to the blackened steel staircase, a glass and metal chandelier, interior copper panels, and a dining table made of wood, steel and concrete. The entry door features a set of antique Chinese wood panels inset into blackened-steel framing.
Custom-designed furnishings include a wood-and-steel dining table and a glass-topped coffee table in the living area. The interiors and lawn are accented with the clients’ extensive art collection, a mix of paintings and sculptures by Pacific Northwest artists.
Brook Bay Residence on Mercer Island – Building Information
Design team
Rick Sundberg (Principal-in-Charge and Lead Designer while at Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen), Misun Chung Gerrick (Project Architect)
Consultant team
This project was completed by Rick Sundberg while a principal at Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen)
Mercer Builders (Contractor)
12th Avenue Iron (Blackened Steel)
Lambert Tile and Marble (Stone)
NW Building Tech (Cabinets)
Specialty Metals (Copper Siding)
House diagram – sketch by the architect:
Custom elements:
Coffee Table (custom-designed by Rick Sundberg; fabricated by Steven Heino)
End Table/Stand (custom-designed by Rick Sundberg; fabricated by Weld and Glue)
Art (Nancy Mee, Dennis Evans, Julie Spiedel, Belle Sanford)
Chinese Doors (1827, from Kyoto Arts and Antiques)
Carved Calligraphy (excerpt from a portion of the Confucian Canon)
Dining table (custom-designed by Rick Sundberg; fabricated by Steve Clark)
Front door (custom-designed by Rick Sundberg; fabricated by Steve Clark)
Chandelier (custom-designed by Rick Sundberg and Thom Schultz)
Photographs: Benjamin Benschneider
Brook Bay Residence, Mercer Island images / information received 201217
Location: Brook Bay, Mercer Island, Washington, USA
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Website: Mercer Island, Seattle
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