Gary Schuberth and his wife Robin both love modern design. With their kids grown and out of the house, they seized the opportunity to make their new home fit the current chapter of their lives.
“The style of our home is very modern, very minimalist,” Gary said. “This clean, neutral approach on the interior keeps the focus on the views and lighting, not on materials and finishes. On the exterior, the simple geometry of the vertical corrugated siding provides a nice backdrop for the trees’ shadows as they change throughout the day and season.”
Starting from the site with its bold topography, Gary started to brainstorm solutions. His first step was to work in conjunction with Robin to develop a concept for how they wanted to live, how the rooms would flow together and how to take advantage of the unique, steeply sloped and wooded site.
“Our home is a perfectly balanced blend of conceptual design ideas and practical features,” Gary said of the home. “There is a very defined experience as you approach the house and enter it, what you see first, second and so on as you walk into the home.”
The stunning views in the back of the house drove the design of the windows. In the front, windows were designed to allow natural light but screen views and the harsh western sunlight. “Lighting was a key focus of our efforts. It was designed so you don’t see light fixtures, you only see the effects of lighting as it washes the walls, ceilings and floors,” Gary explained.
Gary spent about two weeks on the design on paper. With Robin out of town one weekend, Gary pulled a couple all-nighters building a large scale model of the site topography and the house. It came together surprisingly fast, but drawing the construction documents took about three months. With the structural engineering genius of Michael Lederle, Opus AE’s vice president of engineering, Gary was able to realize his vision when the home was completed.
Check back on Friday for a look at the planning and construction phases. If you missed part 1, check it out here. More amazing images can be seen on our Google + page.