Suncrest Residence by Heliotrope Architects

Suncrest Residence located on Orcas Island in Washington State. The site is ecologically sensitive, with bald eagle nests and trees prone to blight. Heliotrope Architects were tasked with building a house that minimized impact to the natural surroundings and use the client’s favorite materials, concrete and wood, to connect the home with the land.

The solution was to situate the home in a large rocky clearing, which made for minimal tree removal. During the construction, there were strict site protocols in place to help minimize disturbance and the landscape was carefully restored. Additionally, rain leaders have been piped to a nearby pond for natural filtration and dispersion.

The home has a long, narrow design that allows for a view of the sea from every room. The home retains a strong connection to the surrounding forest with its primary materials being douglas fir and madrone wood from the forest. Suncrest Residence is also composed of concrete, zinc, steel and glass.