A Waterside Washington Retreat
Located on the edge of Case Inlet in northern Washington, this house is a modern - yet low maintenance – retreat that acts as a family sanctuary away from the city. Case Inlet Retreat (so named after the body of water it sits beside) was designed by local studio MW Works, who used natural materials and floor-to-ceiling glass to ensure that the home blended in with its forested surroundings, whilst also offering the best views across the water and the Olympic Mountains beyond.
The home is composed of two storeys sitting atop the hillside. The exterior walls are covered in weathered cedar cladding or smooth, raw concrete in order to blend in with the tree canopy as much as possible, with the addition of sliding glass doors and large windows to make the most of the property’s location.
Dark woods, concrete and metal are used throughout the home to create seamless, contemporary spaces that are sympathetic to the location. Grass and trees are left untamed – rather than manicured – to add to that sense of being one with nature, while the house itself is designed to celebrate its surroundings as much as possible.
At the top of the build sits a flat roof terrace with unobstructed views across the landscape, while an outdoor deck seamlessly joins up with the indoor kitchen and the master bathroom features a large opening to “give the users a ritual of bathing within the forest”.
To see more projects from MW Works, visit the studio’s
