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ABOVE: Bench 170 is situated on a very narrow lot beside
a busy highway, so the front entry was built with the idea
of protecting it from the noise and traffic. Two wings of the
house unfold from the center entry courtyard of the minimalist
house. Its central living area is 30 feet wide and features an
eight-foot tall sliding glass door that opens to the deck and
the views of the ocean. Radiant heated, the home features
polished concrete floors inside and corrugated metal siding
and cement board on the façade.
LEFT: The road that leads to Bay House is much higher
than the lot, so when the owners wanted a living space on
the ground level, the idea of a grand staircase emerged. A
modest entry opens to a voluminous and warm interior space
with a vaulted two-story view of the ocean. Constructed of
British Columbian fir, the stairway matches the substantial fir
columns and beam work throughout.
Photographs by Walter Powell