Creating Calming Spaces

Stand Alone Quote: “The house would not be the same without the richness and sensuality that the cedar provides.” – Christopher Wright, AIA

The solution? The central section of the house was not given a foundation. Instead, Wright designed two large steel beams to span and suspend the entry and study, creating a bridge between the bedroom wing and the living, dining, and kitchen areas.

The clients also wanted a single level home to better disappear into the texture of the land. The result is a modest, simple but finely detailed house.

“The house is not large but has a great variety of spatial experiences with a mix of high and very low ceilings,” explains Wright. “There is a balance of intimate and expansive spaces. One can almost reach up and touch the cedar ceilings in much of the house.”

Cozy Sanctuary for Nature Lovers

As a long-time practitioner of biophilic design, Wright knows how important Western Red Cedar paneling is when it comes to increasing connectivity between occupants and the natural world.

“From the beginning, a primary goal was to create calming spaces rooted in the site,” says the award-winning architect. “We used cedar for its tactile quality and beauty and to reflect the immediate surroundings and expansive windows to bring natural light throughout the day. The color and feel of the cedar changes throughout each day and season, providing a wonderful sense of sensory variability.”

His appreciation of cedar’s ability to enhance a home’s look and feel extends to exterior applications as well, which is why he opted for Real Cedar siding. And he’s glad he did.

“The cedar makes the house what it is,” he says. “I can’t imagine it clad in any other material.”