This custom island house symbolizes its owner. From the outside, the home is an anonymous, almost austere, monumental concrete facade anchored deep into the hillside on a waterfront property.
Earl Dorsey desired a home that was “powerful, beautiful and durable.” Concrete was the obvious, and perhaps the only material capable of delivering the owners’ desired aesthetic and functional goals. The strategic use of concrete defines the home’s character and spirit.
Much of the home is hidden behind the two-story concrete face. Upon entering, it becomes clear that it is an entirely different experience on the inside, where it is warm, light, and open. The 18-inch-thick concrete wall that forms two sides of the building’s exterior provides a poignant counterpoint to the warm, wooden and copper “box” form that rests at a slight angle to take full advantage of the site’s water and mountain views. The concrete exterior wall and exposed concrete within the home reduce energy costs by serving as a thermal mass that naturally cools the home in the summer, and holds warmth in the winter.
Each room within the home was carefully designed to take advantage of views, provide comfort to the occupants, and an appealing style. This home shines from concept to details.
At approximately 2,900 square feet, the three-story, three-bedroom Dorsey home is literally embedded into the earth. The site for the structure is located on a narrow and steep waterfront hillside on Bainbridge Island, WA. Providing the home’s structural anchor is a substantial 18 inch thick concrete wall that serves two critical functions: acting as a protective outer shell as well as its own retaining element, thus carving out space in the earth for its owners to inhabit. These elements come together to culminate in a highly dramatic entry façade. The design and construction emphasizes that concrete is a perfectly compatible material choice for this project environment.
The interior of the home is well-lit, with clear glazing making up nearly all of its view-side face. With 12-foot tall ceilings, this three-story home leaves an indelible sensation of openness and inspiration with all who visit. The stairs, lit by a large skylight above, are made of customized blackened steel and the wood was milled from a tree previously located on the property.
The existing home on the site had caught fire. The owner wanted to rebuild within the same footprint - however, we discovered that the existing residence had been originally built 15 feet over the property line. Our team worked with the city to obtain a zero lot line front yard set-back. This, combined with an extremely steep and narrow waterfront lot constrained us in every direction. This required engineered vertical shoring 20 feet down in order to build the basement. This was an amazing feat – architecturally and structurally. We were able to create a lovely residential showpiece within the steep, small footprint – and capture the amazing water views the site provided.
The Dorsey home is virtually maintenance free and is energy efficient. In addition to being a virtually maintenance-free material, concrete in this instance actually played a central role in helping to stabilize interior temperatures and maintain occupant comfort. The density of the concrete acts as a “thermal battery” to store and release heat slowly over time. In this way, the use of concrete results in a relatively low lifecycle cost and significantly reduced energy consumption. No matter where you dwell in the house, you are aware of the sturdy, protective and tactile concrete wall that surrounds and cradles you.