Conceived as a retreat nestled into the rock, The Pierre (the French word for stone) celebrates the materiality of the site. From certain angles, the house—with its rough materials, encompassing stone, green roof, and surrounding foliage—almost disappears into nature.
The Pierre
San Juan Islands, Washington
Site Excavation
Beginning with the entry sequence, the rock extrudes into the space, contrasting with the luxurious textures of the furnishings. Interior and exterior fireplace hearths are likewise carved from existing stone; leveled on top, they are otherwise left raw. The primary bathroom’s sink is composed of water cascading through three polished pools in the existing stone.
Interior Design
The materiality of The Pierre—mild steel, smooth concrete, and drywall—creates a neutral backdrop for the interior furnishings and artwork and the exterior views to the bay and surrounding landscape. With deep connections to Pacific Northwest modernists including Jean Jongeward, the owner of this home sought to recreate touchstone moments from her life through art and interior design.
With the exception of a separate guest suite, the house functions on one main level, with an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space. A wood-clad storage box (made with siding reclaimed from a Lionel Pries–designed house) transitions from outside to inside. Its two large bookcases open to provide concealed access to laundry and kitchen storage. A large pivoting steel and glass door provides access to a terrace.
Contemporary works of art by Cameron Martin, Jesse Paul Miller, Andres Serrano, Franz West, and Claude Zervas are mounted inside and outside the house. Antique furniture and art objects are complemented by custom pieces. Olson Kundig designed the interiors, in collaboration with the client.
Off the main space, a powder room is fully carved out of the rock. A skytube runs through to the top of the rock and is topped by glass. A mirror set within the tube serves as a focal point, reflecting natural light into the space and connecting to a forged bronze sink.
Craftsmanship
A bronze shield (c. 1970) forged by sculptor Paul Evans floats atop reclaimed siding from a nearby cabin designed by architect Lionel Pries. Together, they form a custom-assembled cabinet rich in texture and history. Set at a right angle to the main space, a primary suite features a custom-designed bed with a leather headboard and footboard set in the middle of floor-to ceiling bookshelves. Seattle craftsman Rob Folendorf copied photos of rock walls from an existing cabin on site to create custom handwoven wool tapestry for the dining chairs. The arms are wrapped in leather by Holly Hunt. The custom light fixtures are based on the designs of Irene McGowan, a Seattle artist and lighting designer best known for her work with noted Northwest architect Roland Terry.
The Pierre is a modern house exploring traditional site and building strategies. In the spirit of using available on-site materials, we took a natural object from the site—the rock—and repurposed it in the building of this home. It’s both a quarry and a structure.Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA
Design Principal
100 Stewart Hotel and Apartments
Seattle, Washington
Studhorse
Winthrop, Washington
Team
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Christopher Gerrick
Awards
2014
AIA National Honor Awards, Architecture Award
AIA National Honor Awards, Interior Architecture Award
2013
Architizer A+ Popular Choice Awards, Finalist, Residential Single Family Home
2012
AIA National Housing Awards, Housing Award
AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Honor Awards, Honor Award
AIA Seattle Honor Awards, Honor Award
Builder’s Choice Design & Planning Awards, Builder’s Choice Grand Award
Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Awards, American Architecture Award
IIDA Interior Design Awards, Interior Design Award, Best of Competition
2011
Northwest Design Awards, First Place: Exotic Retreats
Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association, Excellence in Concrete Construction
2010
World Architecture News House of the Year Awards, House of the Year
Publications
2023
“13 American Homes Hiding in Plain Sight.” MSN Money, 24 Apr. 2023. Web.
Romero, Tanio. “Habitabilidad.” Entremuros, Jun. 2023, 22-24. Print.
“Tom Kundig sees architecture as an adventure.” STIRworld, 10 Nov. 2023. Web.
2021
Abercrombie, Stanley. “Books.” Interior Design Homes, Mar. 2021, 150. Print.
“America’s incredible hidden homes will make your jaw drop.” MSN UK, 12 Nov. Web.
2020
Bradbury, Dominic and Richard Powers. The Iconic American House: Architectural Masterworks Since 1900. London: Thames & Hudson, 2020, 302-307. Book.
Lasky, Julie. “Custom, Not Customary.” The New York Times, 15 Mar. 2020, F12-F13. Print.
Thakrar, Tina. “In Conversation with Olson Kundig.” Good Homes India, 20 Jul. 2020. Web.
2019
Kundig, Tom. “Inspiration: Tom Kundig on Two Houses that Shaped His Architecture.” Architecture&: the Royal Academy of Arts Magazine, Winter 2019, 10-11. Print.
Rollo, Joe. Concrete Houses: The Poetics of Form, Port Melbourne: Thames & Hudson, Oct. 2019, 116-125. Book.
2017
“Экстремальная архитектура: резиденции со всего мира.” Royal Design, 16 Feb. 2017. Web.
“Architektur in der Natur: Sensible Bauten.” Zeit, 31 March 2017. Web.
“Bildband: Mit Bauen verschönern statt verschandeln.” der Standard, 8 April 2017. Web.
“Dwell Community’s Top 20 Homes of 2017.” Dwell, 29 Dec. 2017. Web.
Goulder, Iona. “8 Dreamy Houses Built Into Nature.” Vice i-D, 4 April 2017. Web.
Lomholt, Isabelle. “The Pierre.” e-architect, 6 Feb. 2017. Web.
“Prachtig stenen huis van Olson Kundig gaat helemaal op in de natuur.” FHM Netherlands, 2 April 2017. Web.
2016
Brake, Alan G. “Amazing Architecture on the Rocks.” Architectural Digest, 4 Feb. 2016. Web.
“Five Great Houses in Washington State.” Dezeen, 29 June 2016. Web.
“Five of the best houses in Washington State on Dezeen.” Dezeen, 29 June 2016. Web.
“INSIDE Olson Kundig Architects. Casa De Pierre.” DÉCOR No. 105, 2015, cover, 10, 46-51. Print.
Plockova, Joann. “Nurtured by Nature.” Christie’s International Real Estate – The Outdoor Issue, July-Sept. 2016, 58 – 66. Print.
“Top 100: The Pierre / Olson Kundig.” ArchDaily, 19 July 2012. Web.
2015
Armas, Eva. “On the ROCK.” Architectural Digest, 18 March 2015. Web.
“Tom Kundig Olson Kundig Architects Seattle.” Metropolis Magazine, June 2015. Print. Web.
2014
Rolls Royce: A Legacy of Driving Excellence, London: Regal Press, 2014. 7, 240-241, 269. Book.