[ Hutchison & Maul Architecture ] Courtyard House on a Steep Site

The program is for a residence of approximately 6,700 SF, with a detached 3-car garage. The site is very steep, long and narrow ? it’s 50’ wide by 400’ long with an average slope of 35%. Located on the west side of Mercer Island, there are panoramic views west towards Seattle and the Olympic Mountains beyond.

Zoning requirements allowed us to only occupy 35’ of the 50’ property width, and limited the height of the building to 30’ relative to the slope of the site. So the most obvious design problem presented itself early on, namely: how does one fit such a large residence on such a narrow and steep site, while meeting the stringent height limit and providing natural light to all of the spaces?

Our solution was to carve down into the site, and to develop exterior courtyard spaces that facilitate pedestrian circulation down through the site, allow sunlight into the residence, and provide privacy from the neighboring properties. As we developed the architecture of the building, we became interested in the notions of foundation and superstructure. The final design has two primary parts: a concrete plinth which contains the utilitarian and less-used spaces such as media room, a guest room, laundry, and the mechanical room; and a solid wood structure hovering above that contains the private functions of family bedrooms and bathrooms. The resulting space sandwiched between this wood structure and concrete plinth is where the primary living spaces occur, with large expanses of glazing that afford views through the open level of the house to the Lake beyond.

The way in which one enters the residence played a primary part in the development of the design. It was important to us that the main entry occur at the center of the house, rather than up high near the garage and driveway. The final design requires one to navigate through a series of excavated exterior terraces and stairways, across water features and bridges, then down another stairway, finally arriving at a small exterior glass-enclosed courtyard in the center of the residence.

This entry sequence thus informed the shape of the wood volume as well as the placement and configuration of the concrete retaining walls. It was also important to us how the wood volume was to be clad. To contrast with the smooth concrete site walls, and to heighten the journey from the driveway to the center of the house, we finally decided on a horizontal wood siding system assembled with members of alternating depth to enhance the notion of texture, shadow and perspective.

In keeping with our client’s request for uncluttered and light-filled spaces, and needing to address a tight construction budget, we selected a restrained interior and exterior material palette. Interior walls and ceilings are gypsum board painted white. Windows and doors are typically wood with conventional trim detailing, painted white to amplify the light entering the opening. Casework is recessed and painted white to blend into the walls, and floors are a wide-plank white maple.

Exceptions to this palette occur at the main living and dining level, where finishes were enhanced to reflect the importance of the more frequently used public spaces. Both the ceiling and floor are treated with white oak to enhance the notion of a space bound by volumes above and below; the fireplaces are sculptural steel volumes placed within the room, or are cast directly into the concrete wall; the kitchen cabinetry is a darkly stained oak; and the window system is a floor-to-ceiling aluminum sliding door system that provides views and large openings to the exterior deck and private courtyard.

Hutchison & Maul Architecture
Seattle-based Hutchison & Maul Architects was founded by Robert Hutchison and Tom Maul in 2001. Exploring space and form through the medium of envelope, Hutchison & Maul’s designs are characterized by site-specific solutions which encompass functionality and efficiency through the use of a limited material palette, and a focus on one or two primary architectural elements. The firm performs work at all scales, from small art studios and residences to large institutional buildings and conceptual master plans. The firm also actively undertakes conceptual and installation work, which typically seeks to celebrate the history and past use of existing buildings, while highlighting their architectural qualities and potential for reuse. Hutchison & Maul was one of eight firms selected as a “2009 Emerging Voice” by the Architectural League of NY.

Robert Hutchison received his Master of Architecture from the University of Washington, has undergraduate degrees in Architectural and Structural Engineering from Drexel University, and performed research in Norway on a Valle Scholarship. Prior to establishing Hutchison & Maul, Hutchison worked as a Structural Engineer for four years, and served as a Project Manager and Project Architect at The Miller/Hull Partnership. He teaches design studio on an annual basis at the University of Washington College of Architecture & Urban Planning, and recently taught a graduate studio at the Washington State University School of Architecture. Hutchison currently serves as a board member on 4Culture’s Public Art Advisory Committee and the independent architectural group Space.City.

Tom Maul received his Master of Architecture from the University of Washington, has an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University, and attended the International Program at the Helsinki University of Technology. Prior to establishing Hutchison & Maul, Maul worked as a Project Manager in the Starbucks Design Department, was an Associate at Karreman Associates, and served as a Project Manager and Project Architect for GGLO. He teaches design studio on an annual basis at the University of Washington College of Architecture & Urban Planning. Maul currently serves as a board member on AIA Seattle’s Committee on Design.

from  archinect