The Little House, By MW Works

The Little House is nestled into a lush second growth forest on a north facing bluff overlooking Hood Canal. Built over an existing foundation, the new building is just over 400 square feet. Early design discussions focused on creating a compact, modern structure that was both simple and efficient. Visitors approach the site from the south, a thin canopy marks the entry and frames views of the canal below. The more transparent north and west elevations pull the landscape and distant view into the space. Taut oxidized black cedar and blackened cement infill panels clad the exterior while lightly painted panels and soft pine plywood warm and brighten the interior. On a sunny western corner of the house a large patio reaches out into the landscape and serves as a jumping off point to the trail system wandering down to the water’s edge. The resulting project hopes to capture the essence of the modern cabin – small in size but much larger than its boundaries. This project has bagged multiple awards like the AIA National Honor Awards for Architecture 2017 and the Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award.

MW Works llc is a Seattle based design studio offering architectural and interior design services to residential and commercial clients. Formed in 2007, by Steve Mongillo and Eric Walter, our office remains small, focused on compelling, collaborative projects of all scales.

MW Works's work is guided by a commitment to the strength of the idea and a passion for the tangibles of material and detail. They bring an honest straightforward approach to our work, uniquely informed by circumstance, process, and ultimately the act of building itself. It is their goal to bring the vision of the client, the particulars of the site, and the richness of craft together to create an enduring livable architecture capable of inspiration and delight. They believe in comprehensive design solutions that recognize and respond to global concerns regarding our limited natural resources, environmental pollution, health, and biodiversity.