Lake Forest Park House with Sustainable Features by Finne Architects

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Finne Architects have completed a renovation project of a 1950′s Northwest Lake Forest Park contemporary house while retaining the house’s original spirit. The modern home seems to be a glass pavilion in the forest since extensive new windows and glazed roof monitors are incorporated to the building.

The existing hemlock ceiling with exposed fir beams in roughly half the house has been retained, and new fir ceilings have been added to the remainder of the house. The existing terrazzo flooring has been re-finished, with new areas of terrazzo added in a complementary color.

Consistent with the original simplicity and clarity of the house, a palette of new materials has been added to create powerful juxtapositions of texture and color, allowing each material to benefit from adjacent contrasting surfaces. Casework consists primarily of cherry panels some panels are smooth while others have been milled with a CNC (computer numeric controlled) router to make a texture evocative of “woven wood”.

A 30-foot long accent wall adjacent to the dining and kitchen areas has been clad entirely in weathered steel panels. Suspended casework on the steel wall utilizes either resin panels with natural grasses or textured cherry wood, both materials set against the variegated umber colors of the steel.

Sustainable design practices were integral to the project from the start. Radiant heating under terrazzo flooring has created an even heat source with maximum energy efficiency. High clerestory windows bring natural light deep into the house and motorized operators allow for venting during summer months. Many green materials like resin panels, quart counters, linoleum, low VOC paint, and sustainable wood products were used in the project.

Photography by Benjamin Benschneider

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