Located as close to Lake Washington as permitted by code, this 875-square-foot (81-m2)single-family house in Mercer Island, Wash., is elevated above a patio to preserve the flatportion of the site for outdoor use. Concrete retaining walls are set into the steep hillside to provide for an entry courtyard.
By elevating the interior living spaces of the house above the small portion of flat land, the resulting covered patio allows the owners to enjoy views and access to the lakes, while providing privacy, said Robert Hutchison, principal of Hutchison & Maul Architecture, Seattle.
Because the building can be experienced from below, from the sides and from above, the architects sought a cladding material that could be used for all three conditions, deciding on a metal siding system. According to Hutchison, copper was chosen because it weathers beautifully without maintenance, or staining, problems. The project utilized 1,600 square feet (149 m2) of a flat-seam copper cladding system for the soffit, siding and roofing. The copper is from Revere Copper Products Inc., Rome, N.Y.
Private Residence, Mercer Island, Washington
Architect: Hutchison & Maul Architecture, Seattle
General contractor: EH Construction, Botell, Wash.
Structural engineer: Jeff Albert, New York City
Mechanical engineer: Rainbow Consulting, Seattle
Landscape architect: Alchemie, Seattle
Metal installer: McKinstry, Seattle
Copper: Revere Copper Products Inc., Rome, N.Y., www.reverecopper.com
