After living in a small Vancouver apartment for years, architect Jesse Garlick and his wife decided it was finally time to get back in touch with nature. So the couple bought a plot of land in Washington’s high desert and began designing their dream retreat. Two years later, they have a house that’s as beautiful as it is sustainable.
Dubbed Sky House, the sun-filled home is a modest 820-square-feet over two storeys. Since it’s located several kilometres from any services, the couple use solar power for the electrical system, propane for water heating and cooking, and a wood stove to heat the home during the colder months. The remote location also meant that the timber-and-steel house was largely built off-site. The structure arrived on a single tractor trailer and was erected in just two and a half days with a small crew. The rest of the finishing details—like the large kitchen island or the platform bed that raises to the ceiling to reveal a bathtub—took another three months to complete. Now, the couple have a stunning home that’s perfect for relaxing and unwinding.