The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle.
The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley.
To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer.
The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear castglass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a highly crafted interior environment.
The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet.
Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years!
Material Used :
Windows/ Doors Exterior Windows:
Quantum Douglas Fir
Lift-Slide Doors at Living Pavilion: Vertical Grain Douglas Fir liftslide doors by Quantum Winodws & Doors, Everett, WA
Front Door: custom sapele pivot door by Quantum Windows & Doors
Exterior Materials:
T&G clear red cedar siding
Montana ledgestone at fireplace
T&G clear red cedar soffits and fascias
Plumbing Fixtures:
Master Bath
Duravit Sinks
HansGrohe Faucets
Duravit Tub
Hansgrohe Tub Filler
HansGrhoe shower fittings
TOTO dual flush toilet
Kitchen
Custom ultra large stainless sink
HansGrohe Faucet
Powder room
Duravit sink in custom sculptural quartz counter
HansGrohe faucet
TOTO dual flush wall-mounted toilet
Other Baths
Duravit Sinks
Grohe faucets and shower fittings
TOTO dual flush toilets
Cabinets
Custom cherry cabinets
Textured accent panels designed by Nils Finne
Cabinetmaker: Taylor Made Furniture, MI
Custom Metal Work
Custom aluminum kitchen and dining pendant light fixtures, designed by Nils Finne and fabricated by Landbridge Lighting and 5 Star Metals, Seattle
Custom steel mirror frames at Powder Room and Master Bath
Custom twisted steel bath accessories designed by Nils Finne
Custom steel stair with “floating” rift-cut oak treads
Counters
Kitchen
Cast Starphire Glass breakfast Counter by Glassworks, Seattle
Quartz counter
Master Bath - Quartz counter
Powder Rm - Quartz counter
Flooring
Milestone custom veneer finish over concrete
Door Hardware - Stainless levers FSB 1058, represented in permanent design collection at Museum of Modern Art, New York
Tile
Master Bath - Stone wall tile and porcelain floor tile; Ann Sacks
Other Baths - Glazed wall tile, porcelain floor tile; Ann Sacks
Lighting
Kitchen - Custom auminum pendant light fixture, Designed by Nils Finne and fabricated By Landbridge Lighting, Seattle
Accent Lights - Bruck LED
Downlights - Lightolier LED
Paints/ Stains
Exterior
Sikkens Cetol Semi-Transparent Stain
Benjamin Moore AURA exterior paint
Interior
Benjamin Moore AURA interior paint
Shades - All windows with solar exposure have concealed shades
