LOCATION CONSIDERATIONS

The owners researched a number of locations for a retirement home in the late 1990s. Living in a “destination” location (i.e., one desirable to others) was a guiding principle for two primary reasons: 1) asset protection, and 2) living in a location people visit for enjoyment ensures that family and close friends will be regular guests.

A second consideration, also based on the owners’ personal preferences, was to find a location that offered a mountain environment in proximity to a saltwater shoreline. Since this is to be a retirement home, living near an economic center was not necessary; instead, a low population density, a slower pace and a sense of community were more important. A community that valued nature and the arts was important, as was reasonable access to urban centers of culture. Typical retirement location considerations, such as access to medical care, public transportation, planned senior community living, and similar issues were given a much lower priority.

Several years into the process of researching locations, two separate friends recommended looking into the San Juan Islands in Washington state, which they each had visited as tourists. A single trip by the owners in 1998 was all that was necessary to become convinced that the location provided the desired qualities. The islands offered a sense of security and well-being, and a vision of American society circa the mid-twentieth century (prior to strip malls, franchise operations, frequent traffic congestion, etc.) but with all the conveniences of 21st century technologies. The unique confluence of these qualities, largely attributable to the fact that access to the islands is limited to ferries and small aircraft, is best represented on Orcas Island, considered by most travel writers as “the gem of the San Juans.”

SITE

The project site was identified during a second visit to Orcas Island in 1999. Contact with realtors prior to the first visit led to the conclusion that waterfront property was prohibitively expensive. That determination resulted in a decision to seek properties with good water views instead. Visits to properties with increasingly impressive water views led to comparable increases in selling prices. Ultimately, the incremental increase in cost reached a level where the realtor suggested visiting a waterfront parcel he considered price competitive with those with excellent water views.

During the initial site visit, the owners saw a property with great, but hidden, potential. Subsequent negotiations resulted in a purchase in early 2000. This parcel, located in an area rarely frequented by tourists and at the end of a one-mile private road, provided the desired privacy the owners seek.

SITE DESCRIPTION

• 4+ acres of waterfront property on Orcas Island
• ± 805 feet of rocky shoreline on the western shore of East Sound
• ± 180-degree water view — north to the village of Eastsound, east toward Rosario Resort and Mount Entrance, and south toward Blakely Island
• Moderately to heavily treed lot — primarily Douglas fir and cedar
• Elevations from 10 ft. above sea level (ASL) at the southern boundary with access to the water, to 130 ft. ASL at the northern boundary

DESIGN

The initial floor plan was drafted by the owners in 2001 after several visits to the property. The final design evolved from this initial floor plan, a six-page “building program” and other detailed materials developed by the owners and provided to the architect at the beginning of the design process. The design evolution occurred over a two-year period, during which the owners provided guidance and instructions, and maintained control over all major design decisions. As one example of the level of detailed involvement during the design period, the owners provided a furniture inventory, with descriptions and dimensions, which would be moved to the new home and that had to be accommodated in each room. The owners provided furniture placement suggestions within each room to ensure compatibility with the size and layout of each room.

The resulting structure consists of three rectangular volumes intersecting at 45 degrees, with two large “bump-outs,” or dormers. The resulting footprint provides interesting angles and room shapes, as well as complex timber frame and architectural challenges, but uses only 45 and 90 degree angles throughout. The garage, with a full loft above, is also fully timber framed.

Please refer to the floor plans to view the room layout. The exterior style, best viewed in the elevation drawings, reflects a more traditional and refined approach than is typical of timber frame homes, and — through limited use of protruding frame members and exterior timbers — suggests to a visitor the timber frame that will be visible upon entry. The 3-D frame drawings present the full complexity and design of the timber frame, and the camera views give a perspective of what a visitor will see. Please note that, although all timber members will be visible from some point in the interior, not all the timbers in the camera views will be visible from each perspective once interior walls are constructed.

Map of San Juan Islands

Map of Orcas Island

Property Map/Site Plan [PDF]

Floor Plans (graphics)

Elevations (graphics)

Frame Designs (graphics)

Camera View (graphics)