PIQUE LLC

Whitten House

Whitten House
© PIQUE llc

WHITTEN HOUSE

PIQUE

ARCHITECTS
PIQUE: PIQUE llc

MANUFACTURERS
Arkema, Fleetwood, Pedini

LOCATION
Tumalo, United States

CATEGORY
Houses

YEAR
2009

Text description provided by architect.

This residence sits on a remote 10 acre site comprised of Sage & Juniper trees in Central Oregon. Conceived as two simple cubes in the landscape, one box for sleeping and one for living, the structure offers two distinct means of interaction with the landscape.

Whitten House
© PIQUE llc
Whitten House
© PIQUE llc

The sleeping box is low & burrowed into earth, while the living box floats above, hovering just at treetop level.

East & South orientations are exploited for views as well as passive solar orientation of the home. 

Whitten House
© PIQUE llc
Whitten House
© PIQUE llc

Exterior materials were chosen for durability against the extreme climate and risk for forest fire. All rainwater will be harvested & stored for landscaping or firefighting purposes.

The pool provides an additional margin of wildfire safety as a usable body of water on the remote site.

Evacuated tube solar water heaters efficiently provide most of the heating for the home through in-floor radiant tubing.

Whitten House
© PIQUE llc
Whitten House
© PIQUE llc

The buildings narrow profile and extensive glazing combined with the regions low humidity allow for passive cooling of the home.

Initially tied to the power grid, the structure has provisions to eventually expand its p.v. array to the point that the home may be taken off grid entirely.

It become completely self sufficient, with no other utilities entering or exiting the site.

Whitten House
© PIQUE llc


Whitten House
© PIQUE llc
Whitten House
© PIQUE llc


Whitten House
© PIQUE llc
Whitten House
© PIQUE llc

PIQUE LLC
T +1 206 9239363 -
PIQUE LLC
3701 S. Hudson St. Seattle, WA 98118, United States