High Prairie – Lyle, WA
A little blip on the hill.
A short brief we repeated to ourselves and our lovely clients, about how we envisioned their getaway residence in the rural community of High Prairie, in Lyle, Washington. Responding to and doing its best to be a quiet addition in its massive 120-acre landscape.
Completed late fall 2019, High Prairie is shaped as much by wind, topography and distance as it is by walls and rooms. The residence is nestled into a gentle hillside, positioning the home to take in view of volcanic peaks, rolling terrain and the shifting conditions of its rural setting.
The material response is deliberately direct. Ground-face concrete block, weathering steel and polished concrete give the architecture a durable, agricultural quality suited to the exposed landscape.
Planning follows the same clarity. A site-cast concrete wall divides communal and private zones, while the primary suite descends from the main floor into a more secluded position with expansive views. Guest accommodation is grouped separately to allow the house to work easily for both quiet stays and visitors.
Covered outdoor areas and an entry court provide sheltered moments between inside and out, while large windows keep the wider landscape continuously present.
Awards
2021 AIA Central WA Honor Award
Press
Architectural Photography Almanac 2022
Publications
Gestalten Press / Parklife Hideways – early 2024
Photography by Lara Swimmer