One of the amazing benefits of photographing architecture and real estate in the San Juan Islands is the incredible diversity of homes that we have. From rustic beach cabins, to old farm houses to modern, architectural design delights the San Juan Islands rarely disappoints.
The Neil Bay House near Roche Harbor is definitely an excellent example of the latter. Here's a brief description from the Architects, Prentiss + Balance + Wickline.
The site is unique, with its remarkable low bank beach and an even more remarkable 25 foot shoreline set back. The clients, a young family with two small children, wanted this cabin to be as intimate as possible with the beach.
The design incorporates both rustic (for him) and refined (for her) elements. The objective is a space that will endure years of wear and tear from kids running in and out from the beach. Crucially, it maintains the intimacy with the outdoor world.
Tree density and compass location eliminated the option of facing the house to the beach: natural light and solar gain being essential to the comfort of the interior environment. To best capture the combination of view and light while maintaining privacy from neighbors, we devised an angled "L" positioning, with the second floor rotated off of this alignment.
Honoring the rustic and refined desires of the couple, we distinguished between floors. The lower floor is simple and blends with the exterior - all store doors and unfinished rough cedar siding. The upper floor is more "considered" - an unexpected window pattern and smooth stained tongue and groove cedar siding lends a refined feel.
Completed: 2011
Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects
The combination of exquisite architectural design and the owner's exceptional interior design choices created a perfect opportunity to capture a bounty of wonderful images.
Although this was a commissioned real estate shoot, to me it felt like it needed to be treated as an architectural assignment. Fortunately I wan't time constrained so I took the opportunity to get the shots that my clients needed as well as some of the amazing architectural details.
And as if the interior design was stunning enough, the exterior beauty didn't disspoint.
