Photography by Jeremy Bittermann.
Perched on a scenic waterway on the southern end of Puget Sound in Washington state, the Case Inlet Retreat by Seattle architects MW|Works is a cabin whose architectural sophistication belies its modest materials and size.
But the architects found clever ways to tuck more usable space into the structure while adhering to the client’s goal of putting the site first.
Though located in a rainy climate, the house is resolutely indoor/outdoor. Shown here, the kitchen blends directly into an ipe deck with built-in grilling station.
The living room is anchored in the forest but features an expansive water view.
The house’s main heating radiates from beneath the concrete floors.
The kitchen and its immediately adjacent deck both utilize the same water-resistant ipe wood flooring.
The kitchen opens directly onto the ipe deck.
The master bedroom, the only bedroom on the main level, overlooks the surrounding forest.
The architects clad the bathroom walls in inexpensive tight-knot cedar.
The bathroom has ipe wood floors, including a small deck accessible only from the bathroom, which Walter calls “a private spot to greet the morning before you greet your guests.”
Though the sliding glass doors between the kitchen and deck serve as an informal entrance to the house, the official entry has a small cantilevered deck welcoming guests into the mudroom.
A winding trail leads to the house from the road, and another trail links the house to the beach and the family’s kayak shed. The house’s bedroom wing, farthest to the right, is clad in weathered cedar.
At night the cabin glows like a lantern.
The cantilevered roof serves as a dramatic viewing deck to the Puget Sound and the Olympic mountains.
Though the house is sleek and modern, it’s not a precious place; the owners wanted to maintain the usability that the original run-down fishing cabin had afforded them—for cooking, kayaking, and for easy use by both the family and their dogs.