Modern Lake House Design

Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects take modern lake house design to the next level with this Pacific Northwest beauty.

“We always strive for timelessness in design, and using natural materials like Western Red Cedar is one of the best ways of achieving that.” – Jake Weber, AIA

Project: Lake Front House 
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
Photography: David Papazian

The clients here wanted to substantially alter an existing home they had recently bought, so that it was more streamlined. Which is easier said than done on a tight, steeply sloping, infill lot that terraces down to Lake Oswego. 

The team at Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects rose to the challenge by designing a compact, three-tiered plan, with undulating boxes strategically embedded into the hillside. These volumes are offset to maximize views of the water while providing privacy from the neighbors. 

Using Cedar in Modern Design

The clients also wanted their waterfront property to be more in line with the Pacific Northwest modern lake house design aesthetic. Ergo, “liberal use of wood” was one of the main goals from day one, and not just any wood. But nature’s most versatile building material.

“Western Red Cedar is a natural choice for a lot of our projects in the Pacific Northwest because it is locally and sustainably sourced and a natural material that withstands the wide variety of environments that we build in,” explains lead architect Jake Weber.

Staining Lake House with Contrasting Finishes

With that in mind, they used Real Cedar to accentuate these unique forms. They used cedar siding on the top two levels. The top level stained a dark gray color and the middle level stained in a natural cedar color for contrast. The boat house was clad in vertical tongue and groove siding and stained dark gray to match the house.

Warming Up Modern Interiors

To blur the line between indoor and outdoor, the interior ceilings of the upper level are also cedar. Large sliding glass door open to a covered deck with matching cedar ceilings. This choice in material helps draw the view of the lake deep into the space and expand the indoors, out. It also creates a welcoming interior. 

“We often find that use of wood indoors also naturally helps warm up the space, especially in the case of modern designs where much of the interior is streamlined and focused on views beyond,” says the award-winning architect.

WRC Specifications
Grade: Clear
Size: 1×4 & 1×6 fineline T&G 
Fastening: Blind nail, stainless steel
Applied Finish: Semi-transparent & transparent stain
Western Red Cedar Supplier: Lakeside Lumber