Discovery Bay House, nestled in the Pacific Northwest, exemplifies the harmony of intellectual rigour, artistic creativity, and natural integration. Designed for Michael Ross, a New York native who spent most of his life in Los Angeles, the house reflects his preference for orthogonal geometry and spacious wellbeing. Michael envisioned an intimate sanctuary with expansive views of nature where he could host friends and family. At the outset of our collaboration, we had the privilege of choosing a topographically intriguing site overlooking Discovery Bay and the Olympic Mountains, just a few minutes' drive from Port Townsend.
The house balances horizontal living for Michael with vertical exploration for guests, blending autonomy and shared experiences. An elevated concrete base preserves the site’s natural contours, while the structure, crafted entirely from wood, achieves a substantial negative carbon footprint and warm integration into nature. Exposed Douglas fir posts and beams form a tactile, orthogonal grid, complemented by birch plywood surfaces in light and dark stains, adding spatial hierarchy. Cedar cladding with vertical planks mimics the texture of tree trunks, blending the house with its forest surroundings. Discovery Bay House offers a dynamic interplay of structure, nature, and light—an inspiring sanctuary for living and connection.
