Thompson Lake House

Project Details

Project Description

This private retreat of wood, glass, and concrete glows like a jewel box on the lake. The owners envisioned a family oasis that would be restful and serene, open and welcoming, and capable of entertaining large gatherings. They envisioned an environment that blended interior and exterior, seamlessly integrated into its stunning surroundings.

With only 40 days to design and submit the house for permit, construction and lead-times were expedited and material selection was minimized. The key to realizing the house is such a short time period was exercising restraint to allow materials to express elegant, simple, and unobstructed beauty was the predominant challenge.

This streamlined and elegant single-family residence features outdoor environments and a large living space that are perfect for entertaining. The envelope allows for dynamic customization: with user-friendly smart technology, the home can easily transition from an open beachfront hangout to a cozy, blacked out theater. The interior and exterior are connected by operable glass hanger doors which frame vistas of the lake, landscaping, beach, and distant architecture. The house’s east-west orientation and south-facing 12-foot-deep overhangs mitigate excess sun exposure and solar heat gain while maintaining expansive views. Finally, the materials link the landscape and building while creating a calm and comfortable home. The house is open and welcoming, but also uniquely private—a blank canvas customizable to suit any occasion.

Concrete was selected for shear, massing, and visual weight; glass for transparency and operability; and wood for warmth and screening. The streamlined aesthetic of the house was guided by the raw beauty of these base materials and features their innate qualities over anything else. The central motif of board-formed concrete, 10-foot-tall pivot door, panoramic windows, and exposed steel beams are all inspired by the natural properties of their materials and their ability to stand the test of time.

The home is designed to be flexible and customizable. The operable hangar doors can enclose the living space or expose it to become part of the outdoors. Discreet, smart-panel-operated roller shades can disappear into the ceiling to frame a symmetrical view of the world-class vista. All the while, fully-integrated systems function out of sight to maintain user comfort.

The project was a fully integrated effort between design team, contractor, and owner. Multiple, weekly onsite meetings, a rigorous eye for detail, advance planning, and a focus on a simple yet elegant solution, guided the entire design and construction process. Close communication and a deep sense of trust enabled the team to develop an out of the box solution that was completed, from start to finish, within a year.

Cushing Terrell Design Team

Joshua Hersel (project manager); David Koel (principal in charge); Jason Yates (designer); Eric Nagel (CAD drafter)

Project Team

Architecture: Cushing Terrell
Structural Engineer: Cushing Terrell (Tom Poremba)
Mechanical Engineer: Cushing Terrell (Tim Johnson)
Electrical Engineer: Cushing Terrell (Ken Butler)
Lighting: Cushing Terrell (Ken Butler)
Contractor: ESI, Inc.
Civil Engineer: KM Engineering
Geotechnical Engineer: MTI
Landscape: Wesley Baumgartner
Interior designer: Fitz | Murphey Interiors
Theatrical/AV: Audio Video Systems

Photography
Deborah Hardee Photography