From its perch in the rain forest canopy, this modern timber-framed idyll outside of Port Townsend, WA tests preconceptions of what a timber-frame home can be.
Cut by guru Ted Benson’s Bensonwood, the modern home 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 and Discovery Bay while allowing occupants to inhabit the tree canopy.
AIA Colorado North Chapter Merit Award 2008