Teresa Mata made ‘ventured’ between forest and meadow to learn more about this project, photographed by Andrew Pogue in Seattle, showing a powerful and visible connection with the landscape.
On Key Peninsula, in the US state of Washington, a suburban home on rural land was growing old and reflecting the passage of time. From the road, a gravel path winds its way towards the house, passing a new barn. From a distance, only a glimpse of the house is discernible where the hillside rises and falls. As we draw closer, so does nature.
The green roof appears as if it were an extension of the ground. Although the house has an impact on the flow of the land around it, the landscape continues to be the dominant force. Imposing fir trees rise like majestic columns at the entrance. Pine stakes and levelling beams are carefully arranged over the tree roots, allowing the building and the forest to share the same space. A bridge extends to the house, crossing an otherwise ambiguous area that seems to straddle nature and construction. These meeting points highlight the continuous connection between the built and natural environments.
This family property is steeped in serenity, warmth and timelessness, as a result of overlapping authentic materials with meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship. Every detail was designed to reinforce the connection with the landscape, which is sometimes intimate, sometimes expansive.