Port Townsend

From its perch among the rainforest canopy near Port Townsend, Washington the Discovery Bay House is a dialogue between the vernacular and the modern. Timber frame and cedar siding speak to 500 years of structural tradition, while the high-performance glazing and inverted gable roof harness the rainfall (150 inches annually) and direct its flow, pushing the boundaries of modern sensibility and technology. The Port Townsend House is meant to interact with, without impacting upon, its surroundings – its promontory deck offers 180-degree views of the Olympic mountain range while allowing occupants to inhabit the tree canopy.

Despite the glass façade, the design meets stringent energy conservation and earthquake codes.

The Port Townsend House received the Unbuilt Architecture, Merit Award from the AIA Colorado, North Chapter in Aug. 2008.