The Pierre

Location: Lopez Island

Owner/developer: Merrill Wright

Project team: Schuchart/Dow, general contractor; Westlake Concrete Construction, concrete contractor; Olson Kundig Architects, architect; Monte Clark Engineering, structural engineer; Lopez Ready Mix, read-mix supplier

The Pierre house on Lopez Island demonstrates the aesthetic possibilities of ready-mix concrete construction. The concrete walls and slabs conform into the surrounding rock outcropping, integrating the house with the site.

Excavated rock was reused as crushed aggregate in the concrete slab.

Stringent specifications had to be met to achieve the required integration of rock and concrete, including the detailed scribing of forms to the existing stone, and the precise panel and cone tie layouts. The project required extensive coordination among all the parties involved.

An integral concrete waterproofing solution was added to the ready-mix concrete because an exterior surface waterproofing system could not be applied.