Project: Brook Bay Residence
Architects: SKL Architects
Location: Mercer Island, Washington, USA
Area: 4,400 sqft
Photographs by: Benjamin Benschneider
Brook Bay Residence by SKL Architects
The Brook Bay Residence that we’ve featured today is a contemporary 4,400 square feet dwelling designed by Rick Sundberg of SKL Architects. It is nestled into a hillside on Mercer Island, right across Lake Washington from Seattle.
Its L-shaped design achieves the owners’ desire for privacy from the neighboring houses. The entire design of the Brook Bay Residence emphasizes intimacy, craft, materiality and a strong connection to the outdoors.
Nestled into a Mercer Island hillside, this intimate two-story residence emphasizes craft, materiality and the connection to the outdoors. A clear demarcation of public and private spaces is reflected both in the design and choice of materials, with the entertaining spaces clad, inside and out, in copper panels, blackened steel, and concrete, while the private master suite—with its exterior wood siding and interior wood floors, lower ceiling height and light-colored walls—exudes a more intimate feel. To make the most of the views toward Lake Washington and Seward Park, the upper floors were designed to contain the main sleeping and living areas, with the support spaces contained on the ground level below.
Rick Sundberg collaborated with local craftspeople to create some of the home’s compelling details, including the entry and interior doors, blackened steel staircase, glass and metal chandelier, interior copper panels, and a dining table of wood, steel and concrete.
