Christopher Wright
Design Milk
Engle, Emily. “Kayak Point House Sinks Right Into Its Lush Pacific Northwest Surroundings.” Design Milk, 09 Jun. 2020
Homeowners that had previously resided in a large house with a manicured landscape enlisted Seattle-based Christopher Wright Architecture to design Kayak Point House, a new home applying architecture blending with nature that celebrates the lush foliage the Pacific Northwest has to offer. The home’s design is informed by several preserved large cedar trees on the plot and is inspired by the Swiss heritage of one of the owners.
Archinect
Joyner, Sean. “Large cedar trees surround Christopher Wright Architecture’s coastal home in Washington.” Archinect, 20 May 2020
Seattle-based Christopher Wright Architecture designed this home for owners who wanted to live in an intimate space with architecture blending with nature—a strong connection to trees, bay views, and the land. Combining Swiss-style architecture with modern influences, the aesthetic nature of the dwelling highlights craftsmanship, structure, and connectivity to the surrounding landscape.
ArchDaily
ArchDaily features Kayak Point House.
Seattle-based Christopher Wright Architecture and Gary Henderson Interiors created a strong yet site-sensitive home elevated just above the land to preserve the trees it aims to enjoy–creating a place that is as thoughtful as it is beautiful. Given only a small section of parcel on which construction was permitted. We see architecture blending with nature—a desire to keep intact several large cedar trees, the home was sited very close to those trees–so close that digging a traditional foundation would have disturbed root systems.
Archello
Kayak Point House joins international selections by Archello.
In addition to a large European-inspired, sleek-yet-rustic kitchen with an informal adjacent space for dining, the owners requested spaces to watch television and to sit by the fire, a sunny nook for lounging, and an outdoor area to view the sunset over Port Susan. The team tackled the clients’ requests by placing an emphasis on refuge and sanctuary, exemplified by the use of natural materials and contrasting volumes to create intimacy. Using architecture blending with nature, the house finds balance–between organic landscape and rectilinear home; between the intimacy of the private space and the expansiveness of the view–finding itself in exactly the right place.
The Seattle Times
Dunham, Sandy. “A Sense of Belonging.” The Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Magazine, 3 May 2020, pg. 20-26
Kevin and Karen contacted Wright after being wowed by his work on one of the nearby homes they didn’t get. “In any neighborhood — especially with a new house and taking down the house that was there — it always is important to not necessarily match everything, but to fit in, and feel like it belongs there,” Wright says. “You see so many [bad] examples. An eyesore starts to change the character of the neighborhood.”
Dwell
When traveling, the journey is at least as important as the destination. For Christopher Wright Architecture, the same may be said for the experience of home–one’s movement through space is equal in value to the stationary experience. This principle is illustrated by the way in which light was directed throughout the home, entering at the end of a passage from an unseen window, for example, to invite exploration. Similarly, though long and linear, the home was given no straight, dominant sightline; rather, when moving from space to space, one receives a glimpse of what lies beyond.
Architecture Bois
Guided by a love of wood, Seattle-based Christopher Wright Architecture and Gary Henderson Interiors designed this oceanfront ranch. Inspired by the Sea Ranch style, beloved by Californian architects, the team emphasized the refuge aspect of the place.
Parklife Hideaways
From cozy cabins and cottages to seaside shacks – discover a variety of inspirational parkitecture to appeal to dreams of a life off-grid.
The Cedar Book VX
My primary task as an architect is juggling the seemingly endless number of competing factors and requirements. I must simultaneously consider the project at all scales, from the most intricate detail to the building’s relation to its immediate surroundings and beyond. For me, architecture is about creating spaces where people feel comfortable – places of wonder, beauty, and delight.