Maxon House demonstrates how a disciplined program and budget can lead to compelling design solutions that liberate rather than confine. The 3,200-square-foot home connects family members with one another, as well as to the heavily forested landscape that surrounds.

Located on a 21-acre, densely forested site, the home is perched on a bluff with expansive views of the Tolt River Valley. The design turned the site’s inherent constraints into opportunities, such as the steep slope that cuts through the lot, which inspired the home’s cantilevered design. The resulting long, rectangular floor plan maximizes the expansive westward-facing views of the valley below.

A weathered Corten steel ramp begins the dramatic entry sequence which culminates in a massive steel pivoting front door. A wall of full-height windows in the main living area frame the towering fir trees beyond, while also countering the horizontality of the overall plan. Raw, humble interior materials such as concrete and plywood unfold throughout the home’s interior.