Lake Washington Residence designed by David Miller and Robert Hull owners of the Architecture company MillerHull which was established in 1977. With their experience in the Peace Corps, both David Miller and Robert Hull believe in socially responsible and humane public architecture, 70% of our projects involve public funding.
We have learned that certain responsibilities come with public work. We encourage public input as it enriches the design and makes it truly representative of the community for which it is intended. Working with advisory committees and citizen groups is a rewarding experience, and we support the process of interactive decision making. We do not believe that public buildings need to be institutional in appearance or functionality. All public buildings are public architecture and as such must contribute in a positive way to their communities. Our interactive process is applicable to private clients as well and our collaborative way of working leads to very successful projects.
This 4000 s.f. residence and carport is located on a steep wooded site on Lake Washington. Entered from above via a bridge, this residence transitions between a steep forest and open sweeping views of Lake Washington. The bridge lands on the 3rd floor covered roof terrace, which offers protection and an upper level deck. A central steel and concrete stair descends through the house to the living area on the ground floor which opens to the shore.Two large cantilevering wood framed boxes rest on a continuous concrete wall. They contain the more private program spaces on the second and third floor; a self contained guest house is located on the top floor. The “boxes” are clad on all surfaces in clear cedar siding which continues to clad the ceiling under the boxes. The edges are trimmed in contrasting metal. The glazed void between the boxes is occupied by the main stairway. As one descends down the stairs, the view alternates between open water and hill side. The house is naturally ventilated; the central stair acts as a “stack” to pull air through the house.
The primary materials for this house are wood framing, exposed concrete and concrete floors, red cedar siding, galvanized and black steel. The window systems are wood exterior clad in mill finish aluminum. Cabinets are bamboo veneers on apple-ply plywood.
