The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley 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.

The house is organized into two major building volumes: a grounded 2-story bedroom wing and a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. The large meadow in front of the house continues 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 winter snow accumulation.

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 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. 

The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with deep roof overhangs for natural shading,  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 high level of craft in the house ensures longevity of use, a key principle of sustainability.