Bainbridge Island Guest Residence

Bainbridge Island Guest Residence sits on a steep, high-bank waterfront site on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The demands of the site’s hazardous topography drove the design, with structural strategies required to both stabilize the building and address significant grade changes. The guest house uses sandblasted concrete walls to anchor a rigid steel frame, providing protection and enclosure while supporting expansive openings. Floor-to-ceiling windows and transparent railings open the interiors to views of Puget Sound. Each room connects to a large cantilevered deck, expanding living areas outward and emphasizing the site's relationship to the water. Exposed concrete and elements of the steel structure are visible inside, contrasted with a palette of glass, wood, and varied finishes. These selections balance robustness with texture and warmth, maintaining a contemporary sensibility throughout.