Location: Washington
Area: 7,831 sq ft
Photography: Aaron Leitz & Benjamin Benschneider
Architecture: Kor Architects
Interior Design: Barbara Leland Interior Design
Contractor: TOTH Construction
Civil Engineer: Coterra Engineering
Structural Engineer: RSE Associates
Mechanical Engineer: Franklin Engineering
Geotechnical Engineer: PanGeo
Landscape: Ohashi Landscape Services
Lighting: DePelecyn Studio
Acoustical Engineer: Sparling
Building Envelope Consultant: RDH Building Sciences

About Studio

When a house speaks to us, we call it a home. When a job speaks to us, we call it a passion. At Kor, we pride ourselves on listening—to the materials, to the environment, to the people who will live in the homes we create. That’s why we work at the human scale, embracing collaboration and deep focus, appreciating the challenges and joys in every project.

Through communication, inspiration, and sheer tenacity we imbue every home with a unique and compelling spirit. While our designs embody decades of collective expertise, we deliver something greater: spaces that speak to our clients’ most authentic selves.

The architecture can be seen fading in the front aspect of the house made of wood, stone, concrete, and steel, allowing nature to take center stage.

Sea view on the exterior of the house's other side. — Sea view on the exterior of the house’s other side.

A view of the front entryway, a staircase leading upwards, and furnishings made of concrete, wood, and steel.

A closer inspection reveals a more intricate design near the house's door. — A closer inspection reveals a more intricate design near the house’s door.

A man standing and admiring the house's lovely view creates a tranquil environment. — A man standing and admiring the house’s lovely view creates a tranquil environment.

The pond makes the house even more appealing and lends it a more natural feel.

Because of the view from the big glass walls, the living room has a bright and energetic appearance but also makes you feel comfortable and relaxed.

A closer look at the fireplace, which adds warmth indoors and is visible from the living room.

This is the larger area of the living room; it can accommodate more people and features a great center table with a carpet underneath.

The dining area is entirely made of wood and cement, and the color of the walls and the chandelier all compliment the decor. — The dining area is entirely made of wood and cement, and the color of the walls and the chandelier all complement the decor.

The kitchen section includes an island table with simple design that matches the dining room. — The kitchen section includes an island table with a simple design that matches the dining room.

This bedroom features a large bed, modern-looking drapes, glass walls, and a balcony with a view.

The minimalistic design of this type of bedroom can provide you with comfort and relaxation, and the painting adds even more beauty.

The stunning wall design and furnishings in this bathroom give off an air of luxury.

The wall pattern and windows that provide you solitude and freedom make the bathtub more appealing. — The wall pattern and windows that provide you with solitude and freedom make the bathtub more appealing.

This bathroom's combo of a shower and a bathtub makes it more accessible and has a good design. — This bathroom’s combo of a shower and a bathtub makes it more accessible and has a good design.

Because you can see the natural surroundings while still being warmed by the fireplace, this attractive patio looks quite soothing.

A number of water features that run underneath the structure into a sizable architectural feature designed to simulate a natural pond next to the lake enhance this sense of connectedness to nature.

A family home unites the demands of an extensive program with hierarchy, plasticity, natural light, views, blurring of interior/exterior space, and a unique connection to the natural landscape. Building elements are organized into attached/detached pavilions based on the program, the hierarchy of structure, and levels of privacy.

The pavilions are dislocated around a unifying north/south glass spine/bridge that allows for an abundance of natural light, compelling vistas through the building to the surrounding landscape, lake, and beyond. The push-pull of building elements around the organizing circulation spine generates intriguing exterior landscaped spaces that inhabit the zones between each pavilion.

A simple, cyclical palette of wood, stone, concrete, steel and expansive window walls allows the architecture to recede and let nature take center stage.

A series of water features reinforce the pavilion’s relationship to the lake. A spring box at the edge of the auto court and a spring box west of the two main pavilions feed water features that appear to flow under the buildings into a larger architectonic water feature. This water feature then pours into a larger body of water that was developed to feel like a native pond adjacent to the lake.

This pond is connected visually (and when it rains, literally) to the lake beyond. Terraces are positioned adjacent to primary living areas in order to further integrate the buildings into the site. The existing monolithic bulkhead is pierced by three new coves that restore the lakeshore back to its imagined natural beauty which in turn allows the family to enjoy activities at the water’s edge.

A hidden stone patio to the north creates a private space to engage the lakeshore, and two outdoor rooms with fire pits were placed at some distance from the pavilions for the family to enjoy the lake at night. In order to directly connect the main living areas of the house to the adjacent lakeshore, large concrete “lily pads” were designed, which appear to float on the water feature and provide dry passage over it between the house and the main terrace.

In order to balance the environmental impact of a large pre-existing lawn, the remaining gardens utilize a palette of contextually appropriate native plant materials. The end result is a seamless integration of architecture, landscape architecture, and nature.

Low-E energy-efficient double-pane thermally broken steel windows and doors made from 100% recycled materials with narrow sight lines allow for unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape, maximize daylighting, and provide passive ventilation. High R-value foamed-in-place insulation was utilized throughout the structure for an energy-efficient envelope.

Geothermal energy is captured to heat/cool the building through radiant floor heating/cooling. Ultraviolet water purification systems along with natural in-place filtering beds within the water features allow for the use of recirculated/recycled water and lake water can be utilized as auxiliary irrigation (as allowed by the local jurisdiction) to conserve fresh water.