LIGHTHOUSE A Point Roberts family home emphasizes fresh air and natural light
Seattle Magazine: January 2017
“When Rhodes’ Point Roberts clients bought an open, south-facing property (just shy of 1.5 acres) in Point Roberts with a water view and a scattering of mature maple trees, they were clear about one requirement for the future house: It would need to capture every scrap of daylight, even in winter. “Light all day long as much as possible really helps the mind and body feel good,” says the owners. The couple had previously lived in a rental in the woods and were ready to emerge from the gloom.”
“Seattle architect Tim Rhodes, of Rhodes Architecture + Light, responded to their needs with a long, low design for the 5,253-square-foot house, which features an L-shaped plan he describes as “a series of wings, expanding laterally into the land,” with major spaces situated on an east-west axis, and secondary spaces—a laundry room, mud room, and additional storage space—forming a supporting wing. Light pours in through large glass-windowed walls, which also provide the clients and their 5-year-old twin daughters with views of the Strait of Georgia and the Gulf Islands from most rooms.”
“The house is heated with an in-floor radiant heating system, fans and fresh air ports, which eliminate areas of differential temperature; reduce air circulation and the resulting distribution of dust, allergens and pollen in the house; and significantly reduce the use of energy to heat the house.”