Architect: Allied8
Owner: Leah Martin
Engineer: Dibble Engineers Inc
Geotechnical Engineer: GeoTest
In 2020, Allied8 and Dibble Engineers worked together on a small 1,300 SF cabin in the woods for a three-generation family and friends. The building site is a beautiful view property on the top of a ridge on Orcas Island. The property has views to the south toward Eastsound, views to the north of the Salish Sea, Sucia Island, and downtown Vancouver B.C.
The land’s steep slope created a challenge to locate enough level ground to support a foundation platform. To limit the impact on the site, the Orcas House is anchored to the earth in six spots on a steel moment frame that hovers over the landscape on three sides. The house cantilevers over one end, preserving the moss and natural landscape beneath it and anchoring the house to the ground via steel piles. The team worked closely with Geotech to ensure the viability of the bedrock for anchoring.
Congratulations to Allied8!