• The Pierre residence, built by Dowbuilt on Lopez Island in Washington
  • The Pierre residence, built by Dowbuilt on Lopez Island in Washington
  • The Pierre residence, built by Dowbuilt on Lopez Island in Washington
  • The Pierre residence, built by Dowbuilt on Lopez Island in Washington
  • The Pierre residence, built by Dowbuilt on Lopez Island in Washington
  • The Pierre residence, built by Dowbuilt on Lopez Island in Washington
  • The Pierre residence, built by Dowbuilt on Lopez Island in Washington
  • The Pierre residence, built by Dowbuilt on Lopez Island in Washington

The Pierre

Awards

AIA | Honor Award for Architecture, 2014

AIA | Honor Award for Interior Architecture, 2014

AIA | Housing Award, 2012

AIA NORTHWEST AND PACIFIC REGION | Honor Award, 2012

AIA SEATTLE | Honor Award, 2012

BUILDER'S CHOICE | Grand Award, 2012

CHICAGO ATHENAEUM | American Architecture Award, 2012

IIDA INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS | Best of Competition, 2012

NORTHWEST DESIGN AWARDS | First Place: Exotic Retreats, 2011

WASHINGTON AGGREGATES & CONCRETE ASSOCIATION | Excellence in Concrete Construction, 2011

WORLD ARCHITECTURE NEWS | House of the Year, 2010

Designed by Olson Kundig, The Pierre is a 2,500-square-foot, single-story residence nestled into a rocky outcropping on Lopez Island in Washington State.

To integrate the house into its natural setting, we employed a combination of dynamite, hydraulic chippers, wire saws, and hand tools to carefully carve through the rock, gradually refining our approach as construction progressed. The result is a structure that is invisible from certain angles, blending into the landscape with its rugged materials, green roof, and lush surroundings.

The home features an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area, where exposed rock extrudes into the interior, creating a striking contrast with the refined furnishings. Our shop designed and built the kitchen cabinets, including two large bookcases that open to a concealed laundry and storage space.

A standout area of this project is the powder room, fully carved out of rock, which beautifully showcases the construction process and the home’s deep connection with its natural environment.

Location

Lopez Island, Washington

Architecture

Olson Kundig

Photography

Benjamin Benschnieder

Type

New Construction

Finish Date

2011