11/24/2008

Selah Residence Wins Top Residential Award from the
Masonry Institute of Washington

SEATTLE, WA –A Selah, WA, residence designed by Stuart Silk Architects took the top residential prize called the Honor Award at the Excellence in Design Awards sponsored by the Masonry Institute of Washington on November 5. It was selected for first place from 17 projects submitted in this category. The Institute received 52 entries for six award categories: Residential, Commercial, Restoration, Government and Institutional, Judge’s Award, and People’s Choice. Tom Papas, MIW executive director, said, “There was a huge ‘Wow’ factor with some of the projects, especially the Selah residence. It really showed off the design capabilities of masonry.”

The Stuart Silk project is a 5,800 square-foot stone home located on a high, rural plateau near Selah. Design Principal Stuart Silk said, “The owners asked us to design a durably crafted, timeless residence with a contemporary feeling and a strong sense of place. It was important that the home maximize dramatic views of the Cascade Mountains and the rural landscape. It is a great honor to receive this award from MIW recognizing our use of masonry in both the interior and exterior spaces.”

Project Manager Michael McFadden said, “For this project, stone was selected for its durability, low-maintenance, and beauty. The home’s design echoes the look of agrarian stone buildings from the early Nineteenth Century.”

Stone also was used for a dramatic wall protecting a sunken pool and cabana area from strong winds. Strategic openings in a wall at the end of the pool allow focused views of the landscape.

One of the award judges, Robert Becker of Becker Architects, said the panel of judges appreciated how the home was integrated into the landscape and how it uses masonry in an elegant way, starting with the residence and out into the garden environment.

The Selah home was extensively featured in the Winter 2007 issue of Home and Architectural Trends and Trends Bathroom magazines. This is the third Excellence in Masonry Design Awards recently won by Stuart Silk Architects. In 2006, two Seattle homes won the Award of Commendation and the Citation Award.

Other members of the Stuart Silk Architects project design team were: Stan Hanson, Rob Okazaki, and Lauri Morrison. The general contractor was VK Powell Construction; the mason contractor was Aden Masonry Inc.; the masonry material supplier was Marenakos. The interior designer was Jennifer Randall, ASID, Jennifer Randall & Associates.

Stuart Silk Architects | Limited PS creates skillfully conceived, innovative, and sustainable residences in addition to visionary commercial projects. The firm’s projects have won numerous awards and have been published in both local and national home design magazines and books.