Скачать или смотреть Elevation of Essence: Reimagining the Lakeside Cabin

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The journey began at the street, a mundane starting point that quickly dissolved into something more profound. The Lakeside Residence, a project of Graham Baba Architects, wasn't just a house; it was a transition, a deliberate shift from the clamor of public life to the serenity of private reflection. The client, drawn to the forested acre and the promise of a lakeside refuge, had inherited a structure compromised by haphazard renovations, a patchwork of past intentions. What remained was the potential, the raw, untamed beauty of the land itself.

The architects envisioned the approach as a carefully orchestrated descent, a gradual unveiling of the lake's allure. The sixty-foot elevation change, a potential obstacle, became a defining feature. The upper driveway, once a simple access point, was transformed into a winding forest drive, a verdant tunnel that filtered out the noise of the outside world. Each turn revealed a new vista, each step a further immersion into nature's embrace. The final approach, a series of intimate landscapes, prepared the visitor for the revelation of the house itself. A two-story glazed entry, a transparent invitation, offered a tantalizing glimpse of the lake beyond, a promise of the tranquility that awaited.

"To preserve the original view experience," Brett Baba, the principal architect, explained, "we carved big glass slots through the house." These weren't mere windows; they were deliberate portals, framing the lake like living paintings. Vertically and horizontally, these glass slots allowed the landscape to permeate the structure, ensuring that the water remained a constant presence, a visual anchor. Planted roof surfaces, a verdant crown, further blurred the lines between architecture and nature, seamlessly integrating the house into its forested setting.

Inside, the house was stripped back to its essence, a blank canvas upon which a new vision could be painted. The disjointed spaces, once devoid of connection to the lake, were reoriented, their focus redirected towards the water's edge. The limited buildable area, a constraint, became a catalyst for creativity. "We needed to be creative in finding ways to solve space needs and elevate the quality of the space we had," Baba recalled. The main floor, the public heart of the house, flowed effortlessly from the galley kitchen and breakfast room to the dining and living areas, each space a stage for social interaction and shared experiences.

Lakeside Residence
Architect: Graham Baba Architects
Photography: Kevin Scott
Year: 2018
Location: Mercer Island, Washington, USA