Lake House residence

Location: Lake Washington

Owner/developer: Schuchart/Dow

Project team: Schuchart/Dow, general contractor; Westlake Concrete Construction, concrete contractor; Stuart Silk Architects, architect; Harriott Smith Valentine Engineers, structural design; Stoneway Concrete, ready-mix supplier

This three-bedroom house was designed to maximize views of Lake Washington, Mount Rainier and the Cascades. The owner sought an open, minimally designed home that took full advantage of the light.

The principal design element of the home is a 60-foot-long, 12-foot-tall concrete wall that serves as its main organizing element. The 16-inch-thick wall defines the home’s circulation, separating the public and private areas on the first floor while providing primary support for the second floor.

The concrete in the wall was left in its natural state, with no finishes or treatments. The wall’s appearance continually changes during the day from the effects caused by a skylight paralleling the wall below. At night, the wall is illuminated by a row of lights embedded in the floor.