Skywater

Perched high on the slopes of Mount Tuam, Skywater was as much a logistical challenge as it was a design one. The remote site demanded careful planning from the very beginning. Access was limited, the terrain was steep, and much of the work had to be carried out in difficult conditions. At times, our crew lived on the mountain in a trailer so we could stay close to the work and keep progress moving through the winter months.

Before construction could begin, the team undertook the complex task of carving a level building platform out of the mountainside. The effort was significant, but it allowed the home to settle naturally into the landscape while preserving expansive views across the ecological reserve below and out toward the Gulf Islands and distant mountain ranges.

Material selection was driven by the clients’ desire for a chemically neutral, health-focused living environment. Low-VOC and Red List compliant materials were used throughout the home, with exposed concrete floors providing both thermal mass and radiant hydronic heating. Douglas fir casework and exposed structural elements add warmth to the interior while remaining consistent with the project’s material philosophy.

The property also includes a guest cottage and a series of wellness spaces, along with a natural swim pond that filters water through aquatic plant regeneration rather than chemicals. Native plantings and careful site restoration help the buildings integrate into the surrounding moss gardens and rocky terrain.