Sanwick Residence Lot 6

One of six homes designed for a wooded community on Bainbridge Island, Lot 6 sits high on a cross-sloped forested site with a glimpse of water. The design concept is simple: a lantern in the forest.

PROJECT STORY

Six houses, one forest, and the challenge of fitting both

The Sanwick subdivision was platted years ago on a wooded hillside on Bainbridge Island, but current zoning now applies more stringent lot coverage requirements than when the lots were originally divided. Each site is steeply sloped or cross-sloped, heavily treed, and comes with the full range of infrastructure requirements: well, septic, stormwater management, and county parking. The developer, Jefferson Fine Homes, wanted six homes that each felt distinct while maintaining enough visual continuity to read as a community. All six sites share one significant advantage: they back up to conserved land, meaning the forest behind each house stays forest.

The design approach was developed across all six lots together before any individual house was resolved. Massing was studied communally to understand how the buildings would sit relative to each other, what views each could hold, and how to keep privacy between neighbors while still opening the living spaces to the landscape. The guiding concept was that each house should function as a lantern in the forest — private sleeping and support spaces screened from adjacent homes, living spaces filled with glass and connected to outdoor living.

Lot 6 is elongated and runs parallel to the slope, positioning the house high among the trees with a partial water view. The main living spaces face outward toward the forest and the glimpse of water beyond, while the bedrooms and bathrooms are tucked to provide privacy from the neighboring lots on either side.

The house is currently under construction, with completion expected in 2027. Photography will be added when the project is complete.