A pair of lantern-like buildings floats above two hilltops, aligned on a N/S axis. One overlooks the river estuary and the other the bold ocean. One contains the main house and the other the guest house. The natural wetland formed between the hills is cultivated as a wildlife corridor through the site. The buildings are separated by approximately 500 feet, but are linked symbolically by concrete block walls which gesture towards the wetland. A horizontal datum at 8’-0” above the main floor ties the two together as an absolute man made ordering device playing against the undulating natural topography versus the ocean horizon.

Climbing up towards the house, two glowing entry porches are revealed. In each building service elements are organized on the east side of the concrete wall. The free plan, creates the feeling of an infinitely long great room. By contrast, the ‘attic’ story is lit by a repetitive field of windows which are punched into the floating wood box. A plinth articulates the long block wall creating a kitchen island, a stair, a desk, a seat, and finally a scupper fountain pouring water from the roof toward the wetland garden.

The finger jointed, timber frame is completely visible on the inside, channeling much of the horizontal and vertical loading into the centre of the plan, and distinguishing frame and envelope. The rough-sawn, hemlock envelope is a rainscreen wrapper.