Lopez Island Retreat

Composed of a tower and a plinth with green roof, this simple modern cabin on Lopez Island provides its Seattle owners with uninterrupted views of Puget Sound. This modest, well-executed design received a Commendation at the AIA Honor Awards for Architecture.

This 1800 SF retreat is located on a waterfront meadow 60 feet above the Sound. The design can be described in primal terms: a garden wall provides a protective back drop; a green roof shelters the interior; a continuous ribbon of glass allows uninterrupted views; a fireplace offers heat; and a tower provides a place for reflection and contemplation. Approached from the south, the tower marks a point in the landscape and lends a Zen-like quality to the site. As one follows the meandering path through the meadow, a light-framed steel bridge appears, leading to the tower by way of the green roof, planted in native field grasses. The steel stair in the tower leads down to the main level, and up to a meditation room high above the surf.

Lopez Island Retreat

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