Cliffside Residence, Washington State Project, North American Modern Real Estate, US Architecture
Cliffside Residence on Port Washington Peninsula
May 5, 2022
Architects: Narofsky Architecture
Location: Port Washington Peninsula, Washington State, USA

Photos: Phillip Ennis
Cliffside Residence, Washington State
The 1500 sq.ft. Cliffside Residence is located on an east facing steep slope on the Port Washington peninsula. It is one of 43 closely spaced homes which comprise a co-op, formally a bungalow colony, established 80 years ago as squatter shacks for workers at the local sand and gravel pit, however; recently, with the rise in property values, wonderful location, quality schools, and a direct train line into Manhattan, the bungalows were purchased, torn down and replaced with contemporary capes and salt boxes with projecting decks, dangerous stairs and a disregard for the state of the hillside.
Our client?s desired to build a structure which respected the slope. Building difficulties included the local codes restricting home size to 1500 sq.ft,(plus up to a 750 sq ft cellar), and no less than 5?between homes. Given the proximity of a home to the north and steepness of the hill, it was necessary to design the house top down. The main structure is conceived as a series of mat slabs which project off of staggered retaining walls, which reduce the locality on the hilltop. No further retaining of the hill was required, and all the original stabilizing vegetation was maintai...