This weekend retreat faces down into a beautiful river valley rimmed by basalt cliffs. The owner challenged Miller|Hull to construct a limited, two room program using materials that were resistant to fire, wind, and intruders. A simple geometric form composed of clearly articulated materials was used to produce a building that is truly "western" in character without being nostalgic.

The structure was conceived as a thin metal roof floated across a basic concrete block rectangle. The floating roof provides a shaded porch to the south, clere story window slots at the main shell, and a covered path out to the water cistern tower to the rear of the building. The 100 x 100 opening facing south has two full-size sliding doors of glass and screen which allow the owner to customize the proportion of open ventilation to glazed area, thereby responding to the potential for both blistering heat and freezing cold.

Without permanent power, the 450 s.f. structure is effectively heated by a wood stove. The cistern is currently filled by a water truck, with plans for a well to be dug in the future.

Awards:
1996 AIA/NCMA Design Awards Top Merit Award
1994 AIA/NW & Pacific Region HONOR Award
1993 AIA/Seattle Chapter HONOR Award
1993 AIA/Sunset Magazine Citation Award

Completion Date: November 1992

Publications:
1999 Ten Houses: Miller|Hull Partnership (Book)
1995 Casa Refugio (Private Retreats) (Book)
1998 Pacific Edge (Book)
6/95 Ville Giardini (Italy)
5/94 Architecture Magazine