a family getaway below washington’s mount baker

Set low near the river’s edge, Retreat to Glacier is a quiet dwelling that listens to its landscape. Its linear form follows the current, drawing light and reflection deep into the home. From the modest approach the building reveals itself gradually — opening toward the water, where each room becomes a frame for the changing seasons. Concrete floors hold warmth from within; steel and wood gather the patina of time. The architecture is stripped to its essentials, both in material and in gesture — an honest structure that feels inevitable in its place. Inside, comfort and simplicity guide every detail, allowing life to unfold at the pace of the river beyond.

Project Completion: 2020
Project Location: Bellingham, WA
Square Footage: 2,500
Structural Engineer: Quantum Consulting Engineers
Contractor: Highline Construction

Designed and built while employed with Johnston Architects