Forest House

A low-maintenance refuge: modern home immersed by nature.

Tucked into a wooded lot in the Pacific Northwest, this custom home for a growing, plant-loving, design-savvy family balances durability with serenity. Though modest in footprint, the four-bedroom layout feels expansive thanks to a central outdoor room that anchors the home. Above the detached garage, a compact ADU offers flexible space for guests, remote work, or multigenerational living.

This building pushes the envelope with both its structure and cladding. The primary frame is constructed from Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), left exposed on the interior to showcase the natural warmth and texture of wood. Wrapped in a dense layer of insulation and protected by a commercial-grade terra cotta rainscreen system, the exterior is designed to be virtually maintenance-free for decades to come.

At the heart of the home is its most distinctive feature: an orangerie—a greenhouse for plants and people. Channel glass clerestory windows bathe the space in diffuse, luminous light—ideal for plant health and year-round comfort. The gentle glow filters into adjacent living areas, creating a calm, contemplative atmosphere that shifts throughout the day.

Designed for a family of gardeners, the home offers three distinct outdoor environments. The orangerie shelters citrus trees and other exotics in a refined, climate-controlled setting. The internal courtyard—protected from deer by the surrounding structure—features pruned Japanese maples, ornamental grasses, and a serene rock garden. Beyond the glass walls of the living room, the native forest remains untouched, with Douglas firs, sword ferns, and salal creating a living backdrop that grounds the home in its Pacific Northwest setting.

Fire resilience is central to the design. The terra cotta cladding, channel glass, thermally broken metal windows, and standing seam metal roof are all noncombustible—providing peace of mind in an increasingly fire-prone region. These materials, paired with sculpted massing and solar-aware orientation, form a warm, protected retreat in the trees.

Sustainability here isn’t about plaques or credentials—it’s about building something beautiful and lasting. The concrete floors provide thermal mass, regulating interior temperatures naturally, while the high-performance thermal envelope reduces the load on mechanical systems. By focusing on longevity, efficiency, and emotional connection, the design supports a quieter kind of sustainability—one rooted in permanence, care, and daily delight.

Forest House information

type: Residential
year completed: concept
location: Bainbridge Island, WA

client: Private
design: Studio Kamppari