On Orcas Island, Washington, Heliotrope Architects designed the Doe Bay Retreat, a low-maintenance, split gable home for a retired couple. From its site on a narrow rocky knoll, the home features framed views of old-growth trees and distant water from both ends.
Minimalist and contemporary, the home’s spatial volume is emphasised by the cost-effective prefabricated trusses along the ceiling. Two gabled volumes meet at a central entry, with an interior floor plan that splits public and private spaces cleanly. At the south end, the living, dining, and kitchen areas segue onto a cantilevered deck that reaches into the tree canopy, looking toward Rosario Strait. On the north side, the primary suite opens directly onto the rocky landscape. A hallway connects the spaces, lined with double-hung windows that pull light deep into the center of the house.
Black, white, and dark weathered wood is the material palette, creating a restrained backdrop for the owners’ art collection, illuminated by the natural light spilling in from the full-height glazing.
With its straightforward structure framing views and filtering light, Heliotrope Architects delivers a serene retreat of calm, understated spaces.
Photography © Andrew Pogue