Nestled beside a wetland in Snohomish, Wittman Estes shapes a residence where domestic life, craft, and landscape converge through a restrained architectural language rooted in climate and materiality.
Drawing from the ancient archetype of the impluvium, the project uses rainwater, reflecting pools, and sheltering roof forms to transform the Pacific Northwest climate into the defining spatial experience.
Photography by Andrew Pogue.
Formerly occupied by an animal sanctuary, the four-and-a-half-acre site is shaped into a secluded retreat for a newly retired couple, with the residence stepping gently into the sloping terrain through a series of low terraces and connecting gardens.
Organized around a central courtyard, the main house uses ponds, cedar bridges, and concrete walkways to guide the entry procession from a welcome garden through a sequence of lower, middle, and upper reflecting pools.
Extending outward beneath broad overhanging roofs, sheltered circulation paths direct rainwater toward the courtyard basin, which Matt Wittman described as “the driving force of the building.”
Broad sloping eaves draw collected rainwater inward, allowing water to remain visible throughout the daily experience of the home rather than concealed within conventional drainage systems.
Framing the northern edge of the courtyard, the workshop building sits between the residence and the adjacent highway, forming an acoustic buffer while reinforcing the enclosure of the compound.
The 1,471-square-foot structure contains spaces for woodworking, glass art, and other creative pursuits, which Wittman said results in “an experience of quiet seclusion.”
Clerestory glazing beneath the workshop’s shed roof introduces consistent north light suited to detailed craft work, while covered walkways maintain continuous movement between living and working spaces during periods of rain.
Continuity extends into the project’s restrained material palette, where naturally weathering fir and cedar from nearby mills are paired with cast-in-place concrete floors, terrazzo surfaces, and corrugated metal roofing finished in a muted metallic tone.
Tight-knot cedar cladding and slatted wood soffits establish visual consistency between interior and exterior spaces, while sandblasted concrete paving extends outward into patios and circulation paths.
Inside, hydronic radiant heating is integrated within the concrete slab, balancing thermal comfort with the durable material palette.
Generous glazing introduces natural light from all sides while framing views toward wetlands, meadow plantings, and surrounding forestry.
Beyond the courtyard, landscape design by Wittman Estes transitions gradually from cultivated gardens into meadow and woodland plantings.
Entry gardens composed of lavender, sage, sedum, and kinnikinnick give way to butterfly gardens and native species including salal, evergreen huckleberry, and Pacific rhododendron.
Exterior living spaces are embedded within this layered landscape system, including a west-facing patio enclosed by a concrete retaining wall overlooking the forest beyond.
Rather than resisting the region’s persistent rainfall, the residence transforms climate into an architectural medium.
Water, landscape, and craft are treated not as separate elements, but as interconnected systems shaping daily life across the compound.
Founded by architect Matt Wittman and landscape designer Jody Estes, Wittman Estes approaches architecture and landscape as interconnected systems rather than separate disciplines.
Based in Seattle, the studio is recognized for residential projects that respond closely to ecology, topography, and climate, often using courtyards, rainwater systems, and natural materials to strengthen the relationship between buildings and the surrounding landscape.
Credits:
Architecture / Landscape / Interiors by: Wittman Estes (Matt Wittman AIA LEED AP, Design Principal, Jody Estes, Landscape Principal, Ashton Wesely AIA LEED AP, Project Architect)
Structural Engineer: Josh Welch Engineering
Builder: MRA Builders
Civil Engineer: LPD Engineering
Geotechnical Engineer: Geo Group Northwest
Photography by: Andrew Pogue
