Discovery Bay House
Nestled in the tranquil scenery of the Pacific Northwest, Discovery Bay House exemplifies a harmonious blend of intellectual depth, artistic innovation, and natural harmony. This custom home was designed for Michael Ross, a discerning client who discovered the architectural studio Dekleva Gregoric Architects after being captivated by an ocean-view residence they designed in Maui, Hawaii. Originally from New York and having spent years in Los Angeles’s entertainment sector, Michael aimed to create a spacious retreat with sweeping views, allowing him to host family and friends. His first meeting with the architectural team and the discussion about their design philosophy set the tone for an engaging creative process.
Upon meeting Michael, his vision and personal needs came through clearly. He favored order and equilibrium and expressed an affinity for orthogonal, Euclidean shapes over curved or irregular forms. This preference guided the design philosophy, emphasizing rectangular volumes and modular organization. While selecting a site together, the studio provided immediate insights into each plot’s potential, ultimately settling on a location overlooking Discovery Bay with a south-facing orientation toward the Olympic Mountains. This topographically interesting site featured a gentle decline toward the main ocean view, presenting both a challenge and an opportunity to craft a design that would preserve the landscape while maximizing visual connections to nature.
Michael envisioned a horizontal living experience, a retreat where he could enjoy expansive, single-level comfort while simultaneously wanting his guests to have a distinct and engaging experience within the home. The studio’s core idea emerged: Michael’s experience would remain on the ground level, while guests would embark on a vertical journey within the home. This layering of experiences created a nuanced spatial dynamic, aligning with Michael’s programmatic desires while offering autonomy and privacy for both him and his visitors.
To honor the site’s natural configuration, the foundation is designed as a reinforced concrete slab strategically positioned to allow the house to blend seamlessly with the landscape without flattening it. From this stable base rises the essence of the structure: an inhabited three-dimensional structural grid of Douglas fir posts and beams, creating the orthogonal framework that defines Discovery Bay House. Beyond the foundation, the entire house is built from wood, including all cladding, screens, and detailing, highlighting ecological architecture. This choice of materials fosters a warm, tactile experience throughout the house while reducing its environmental impact. The design achieves a negative carbon footprint by actively sequestering carbon and adhering to a low-impact design philosophy. This modular system reflects Michael’s love of orthogonal geometry and functions as both a visual and tactile element. Visible and celebrated throughout the house, the Douglas fir structure invites occupants to engage with it directly, allowing them to touch and experience the natural warmth of the wood as they navigate the space. All structural fixing elements are exposed to highlight traditional American building techniques.
Between these structural beams, birch plywood panels clad the floors, walls, and ceilings, fastened with visible black screws in a handcrafted aesthetic. Each plywood surface is stained with a tinted finish in two tones: a light grey defining all primary living spaces and a charcoal brown highlighting specific volumes within the house. This careful application of color creates a subtle hierarchy of spaces, guiding the eye and adding depth to the experience of moving through the home.
Ventilation and natural light are vital elements of the design. Each room includes windows positioned diagonally across from each other, facilitating cross-ventilation and ensuring a fresh, airy interior environment. The spaces between volumes further enhance this natural ventilation, reflecting the studio’s dedication to sustainable design practices. This deliberate spatial rhythm—fostered by structural modulation and airflow—imbues the house with a quiet dynamism as occupants navigate through light, shadow, and ventilation areas.
The façade cladding, made from cedar wood, is treated with a darker varnish that allows the structure to blend seamlessly into the landscape. Vertical wooden planks, arranged in two directions, replicate the texture of tree trunks, fostering a visual dialogue between the house and the surrounding forest. This design choice enables the house to resonate with its environment, standing proudly yet unobtrusively amidst the Pacific Northwest wilderness. As light filters through the trees and onto the house, the façade shifts in tone and texture, creating a dynamic interplay between architecture and nature.
Ultimately, the house serves as a spatial narrative of rhythm and discovery. The carefully crafted grid establishes a consistent, intellectually rigorous framework that aligns with Michael’s aesthetic preferences. However, as one journeys through the house, the warmth of the wood, the subtle tonal variations, and the interplay of light and shadow transform this spatial grid into a natural and inviting experience. The design reflects a duality: a mathematically precise home deeply connected to the organic world it inhabits. A three-dimensional structural grid facilitates a series of intriguing spatial relations: indoor-outdoor transitions via a covered terrace, double-height spaces, and an observation tower.
In Discovery Bay House, architecture becomes an experience for both mind and body—a carefully orchestrated journey where each step, each touch of the Douglas fir beams, and each transition from one volume to another reveal the beauty of thoughtful design. For Michael, this home is more than a place to live; it’s an invitation to explore and connect, offering both sanctuary and a platform for hosting, all while celebrating the natural environment that inspired it.
