FINNE Architects Inc

Nov 2014

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered V-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years!

Mazama, WA

Jan 2014

The Deschutes House is located on an urban site facing the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon. The architectural massing of the house has been wrapped around a south-facing, grassy courtyard, with dramatic 2nd story spaces cantilevered toward the river. The main living space is completely transparent to the river on one side and to the courtyard on the other side, providing two entirely different views from the room. The living ceiling plane has enlivened by CNC-milled wood-strip ceiling panels, with variegated shapes inspired by landscape morphology. The house is clad with a two different types of siding: tightly spaced Western red cedar and corrugated metal siding. The warm tones of the wood contrast nicely with the cool tones of the metal siding and metal roofing. The fireplace chimney is clad in Montana ledge stone with a combination of earth tones and grey-blue colors. The house has a number of sustainable or "green" building features, including 2x8 construction (40% greater insulation value); generous glass areas to provide natural lighting and ventilation; large overhangs for sun and snow protection; metal siding for maximum durability; and radiant floor heating. The house also has solar hot water panels for domestic hot water.

Bend, OR

Oct 2013

The SVING bench is a small, sensuous bench that creates an undulating plane of Sapele wood, suspended over a very thin blackened steel base. Measuring about 18 wide and 34 long, the bench demonstrates that a small piece of furniture can create a large visual impact.

Seattle, WA

Oct 2013

The cabin in the North Cascades is part of a continuing investigation into the lyrical qualities of wood and stone. The site is located at the north end of a beautiful, pristine valley, between a large open meadow and a dramatic mountain ridge. The meadow has a cross-country skiing trail that is groomed during the winter, with links to other trails, so the cabin allows for "skiing at the doorstep." A series of complex wood trusses provide the major ordering element of the design. The trusses are supported by stone walls, utilizing split-face Montana ledgestone. The roofline begins very steeply at the peak, then breaks into a gentle slope over the 9 ft. deep stone porch that is continuous on both sides of the cabin. The deep roof overhangs contribute strongly to the image of shelter and welcome. High clerestory windows allow the interior to enjoy generous amounts of natural light. Additional high windows placed within dormers also allow natural venting during the hot summer months. The cabin is designed both for the cold, snow-filled winters and the hot, dry summer months. The broad porches provide protection from the heavy winter snow as well as the making a cool, shady place to sit during the summer months. The major building materials are Montana ledgestone exterior walls, Douglas fir trusses and purlins, Douglas fir windows, metal roofing and Douglas fir interior wood panels. The exterior porches are stone, and the interior floor is cast concrete (with a custom veneer finish) combined with inlaid strips of stone mosaic. The cabin is heated by a hot-water radiant slab system. The floor plan is straightforward, with an open area containing living, dining, and kitchen at the east end of the cabin, and bedrooms with a loft above at the west end. The long face of the cabin faces south. A dramatic steel and wood bridge to the children's loft goes past the kitchen and then ends in a stair close to the front door, allowing the activity of going to the loft (mostly by children) to become a part of the main space, even slightly theatrical.

Mazama, WA

Oct 2013

The VRI bath accessories group consists of a towel bar, toilet paper holder and robe hook. All the pieces use a simple piece of steel, which is then heated and twisted to make a sculptural shape (the term VRI means to twist in Norwegian). The towel bar is available in lengths of 18, 24, 30, and 36. The accessories group is available in two finishes: brushed nickel or blackened steel.

Seattle, WA

Oct 2013

The OTTA coffee table utilizes an irregular blackened steel frame with alternating panels of clear and satin etch Starphire low-iron glass. The table explores the idea of abstracting natural forms and fabricating them in a pure industrial material. Table size is 36x36.

Seattle, WA

Oct 2013

The top of the LING table consists of two large (22 wide, 2 thick and 8-ft. long) slabs of reclaimed elm wood, stained a dark umber color. The outer edges of the top are the living edge of the original elm tree, while the inner edges are cut and machined (with a 1-1/2 gap between the two wood slabs). The table base utilizes blued steel with an overlay of bronze with a complex, laser-cut pattern. Size: 3-2 x 8-6 Materials: Reclaimed elm, blued steel, laser-cut bronze

Seattle, WA

Oct 2013

The FOSS pendant light fixture measures about 10 high and is made with hand-blown glass, stainless cable and a brushed nickel lamp-holder. The fixtures free form shape evokes the flow of water, and the fixtures name, FOSS, is the Norwegian word for waterfall. The MR-16 (or LED) lamp is located above the glass shade in order to evenly illuminate the hand-blown glass. The fixture takes the more standard pendant configuration (lamp inside shade) and turns it inside out.

Seattle, WA

Oct 2013

The two STEN layered glass coffee tables explore the idea of natural form created with industrial technology. The tables use glass lamination to create layers of shaped, low-iron Starphire glass, which are then cut with an industrial water jet. Similarly, the steel bases are also water jet-cut, and present a contrasting pattern that is seen through the glass top. The glass is layered with varying thickness of clear and satin-etch pieces, achieving an overall edge thickness from 3/4" to 1-1/4". The forms are inspired by the shape of large rocks and boulders, but the translation into glass creates something new: "glass rock," without mass or density. The glass reflects light and becomes non-material. When light strikes the surface of glass, it is almost as if glass becomes light itself. STEN-1: 78" x 24" x 17" high STEN-2: 50" x 42" x 17" high Materials: low-iron Starphire glass, water jet-cut steel

Seattle, WA