Longbranch Residence / mwworks

Longbranch is a home designed to be looked at. From the country road, a gravel drive leads towards the house passing a new, unassuming barn. In the distance, where the slope drops away, just a glimpse of the house can be seen. Next to it, the planted roof appears as a continuation of the ground plane. That small patch of meadow grass is now a habitat for a colony of frogs and a favorite perch for various birds. Although like stones firmly set in a streambed, the house influences the path of the terrain that flows between and through it, the landscape is always the main force. Tall pines stand as giant columns at the entrance. Pin piles and grade beams carefully cross over tree roots so that the building and the forest can share the same ground. A bridge extends into the house, encompassing an ambiguous area that resembles nature and structure. These points of association emphasize the continuous connection between the built environment and the natural environment.

As the front door opens, so does the view through the house, revealing the nature of the structure as well as the headland and the view towards Case Inlet below. Each room adds its connection to the landscape, sometimes compact in scale, sometimes expansive. Today, the forest and the meadow are reintegrated and together they embrace Longbranch, the family home with the peace, warmth and time that comes from layers of authentic materials with attention to craftsmanship and details.

The building imitates the form of the landscape with casts and columns, masses and voids. Primary structural masses are cast with a loose concrete mix that expresses the fluid nature of the material in contrast to the surrounding ragged aggregate. Private spaces are clad in dark-stained cedar and locally sourced Douglas Fir beams form the timber frame pavilion floating between these solids. At the living pavilion, a delicate glazing is kept apart from the heavy frame, which covers the space to a minimum and expresses the nature of the assembly. The forest and the meadow were reintegrated, embracing the house in nature.