America's best new homes: Architects reveal the finest houses built in 2012 (and one even comes with a living room IN a forest)
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The American Institute of Architects announced the winners of the 2013 AIA/HUD Secretary Housing Award with the top prize going to a contemporary-styled home in Orca Islands, Washington State.
At the request of the artist owner Marie Gladwish, who also happens to be the mother of architect Gary Gladwish, the home utilizes its natural backdrop and even comes with a living room in the woods.
The two other top contenders also made the most of their natural surroundings in California and Colorado and both have pools that can be used year-round.
Not your typical living room: this one is located in a forest
Architect Gary Gladwish designed the home for his artist mother and preserved the extraordinary views
A sliding panel door separates the outside from the inside
The hilltop location offers incredible views of the Canadian Gulf Islands
The home, which tops at 2,600 square
feet, also has a combined kitchen-dining area, a master suite, study and
art studio. A garden bisects the house and creates two 'zones' with
optimal views of the outside scenery.
The hilly locale means that beyond the forest filled with madrone trees and firs anyone in the home can see all the way to the Canadian Gulf Islands.
The house was constructed with energy-efficiency and conservation in mind.
Some of the materials used to build the home actually came from a 100-year-old barn in eastern Washington. Moss and rocks discovered at the construction site were also utilized towards the home.
The voting body of the American Institute of Architects seemed quite impressed with Eagle Ridge.
Said one member of the jury, 'This is such a Zen house — it does so much with so little, and it responds to the client’s wishes.'
LED and compact fluorescent lights are used throughout the home
Careful not to spill anything: like the rest of the home the kitchen is modern and energy efficient
The voting body for the American Institute of Architects appreciated the 'Zen-like' quality of the home
The second-place home known as Halls Ridge Knoll is on a site formerly a cattle ranch and now a prime vacation retreat in the Santa Lucia Preserve.
Stone, timber and glass were all used for home that overlooks the San Clemente Mountains.
Perhaps the most unique feature to the home the sliding doors which open out onto a wood-paneled deck. Because of California's unique weather, the outdoor pool is also a solid year-round feature.
Care for a dip? Though the California climate is enviable this is a heated pool
Much of the wood used for this deck was salvaged from a nearby barn
The home provides astonishing views of the San Clemente Mountains
In third place is a 2,850 square foot home in Colorado that features three bedrooms, a dining room and a kitchen area that overlook the Rocky Mountains.
A solar thermal system operates the pool, spa and outdoor area which has a fireplace and a retractable movie screen.
The smart house with its high array of sensors is over thirty percent more energy efficient than comparable homes nearby.
The unique roofing structure has the home blending in to the scenery
Smart programming sensors keep the home energy efficient
An outdoor fireplace accommodates many of those chilly Rocky Mountain nights
The heated pool has views of the surrounding mountain terrain
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Just to clarify matters, there are NO Orca Islands. There ARE the San Juan Islands of which ORCAS ISLAND is one of many. Our family camped at the state park there when I was a child. They are NW of Seattle, and a beautiful place to visit. I don't care for these modern houses, but I love the islands up there! It's a great place to vacation. You can take the ferry between many of the islands, so if you're looking for a beautiful August vacation destination, the San Juans are wonderful. You can catch a ferry from Anacortes on Fidelgo Island which you can reach by car.
- LovetheQueen , Healdsburg CA, 27/5/2013 02:33
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