42 DIGS.NET
| 9.23.22
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D E S I G N | H E L I O T R O P E A R C H I T E C T S
feature. "Illuminated at night, the fountain
animates the concrete surface, so you get
a great lighting effect," describes Herrin.
The house is clad in cedar boards with
the objective of having the material evolve
over time. "For waterfront houses in this
area, you have to design for the weather,
as it often approaches from the southwest,
and the cedar over time will change with
the marine environment."
Opening directly to the beach and flowing
out to the yard, the lower level comprises
a media room, yoga studio and wine
room. Outside, a shower, spa, sauna, bar,
paddleboard storage area and fire pit are
an invitation to enjoy the exteriors as well.
NJOYING WATER AND
mountain views, favoring the
inside-outside connection and
making the most of the beach
proximity were at the top of
the list for this married couple
who grew up locally and couldn't imagine
raising their two children anywhere else.
"The owners were very interested in a warm,
minimalist design solution and were drawn
to the notion of a jewel box perched over
the site," remembers Joseph Herrin, princi-
pal and co-founder of Heliotrope Architects.
Located in Seattle, the 3,442-square-foot
home was built on a site with an odd
shape (reminiscent of the state of Okla-
homa), which faces the Puget Sound and
Olympic Mountains.
To provide acoustical protection from the
busy neighborhood street, Heliotrope
Architects opted for a rippling water
E
