I T I N E R A R Y | S H O R T H O P S
Island Home Spotlight : Lone Madrone An Orcas Island Retreat
At the edge of a windswept shoreline , nestled into the rocks and trees on Orcas Island , rests a 3-bedroom , 2-bathroom house that shouts luxury .
A CUSTOM LIFT-SLIDE DOOR system allows the main living spaces to open completely on the north ( inland ) and south ( towards the water ), while the spacious kitchen opens onto an adjacent rock . The result is a home that lives much bigger than its 1,600-square-foot size .
To provide protection during winter storms and security when unoccupied , the major openings are outfitted with rolling wall panels . A garden roof seeded with native , drought tolerant vegetation was utilized . It replaced more than 90 % of the vegetation footprint lost to construction . This helped avoid habitat loss for near-shore insects — a critical food source for endangered juvenile chinook salmon .
Project Team
Architecture Heliotrope Architects Interior Furnishings Ore Studios Contractor David Shore Landscape Architecture Garden Artisan Structural Engineering Swenson Say Faget
Designed to mimic the hillside , this Orcas Island gem is tucked within a natural depression in the rocky shoreline — limiting its visual impact on its environment . Local materials were utilized throughout the design , including Douglas fir ( floors , trim ), western red cedar ( siding , walls , and ceiling cladding ) and Pacific madrone ( furniture ). Located within the San Juan Islands National Monument , the home ’ s drainage system was designed to capture runoff along the up-slope footing and disperse it in an un-concentrated 1 / 1 ratio just downslope of the structure . This design replicates the pre-construction runoff condition as closely as possible , helping to maintain the Island ’ s water quality . SEAN AIRHART PHOTOS
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