Agate Pass Cabin | Olson Kundig

The home of Alan Maskin, principal and owner of Olson Kundig, this project reflects Maskin’s longstanding interest in the various uses of history. The project includes an 1,100-square-foot renovation and building addition to the original 1930s cabin, interior design and landscape design, as well as an art and custom furniture collection. Maskin’s design intervention delineates the house’s two different eras: the 1930s and today.

Originally, the one-story cabin had low ceiling heights and an attic. The interior walls and ceilings were clad with wide planks of Douglas fir, which would have been plentiful in the area 100 years ago. For Maskin, this was one of the best qualities of the original house – throughout construction, he had a “what comes down must go up” policy for the original wood panels. Each panel taken down for an alteration was repurposed in the new additions, becoming cabinets, new ceilings and storage areas. Throughout the design, Maskin worked to make the different construction periods legible. Modern additions are demarcated with different wood types from the original planks, making it clear to see what was “then” and what is “now.”

Even though the house needed a large amount of work, for Maskin it was a dream project. He removed the low ceiling in the living room and turned the former attic space into a cathedral ceiling 17 feet tall at the gable. New foundations were added where none existed previously, and seismic upgrades were made. Maskin essentially added a second story to the house – a new stairway with orange plexiglass risers leads to a large bedroom. Here, floor-to-ceiling glass windows give expansive views of the water and Agate Pass. A small second floor terrace was added atop the original screened-in porch, which Maskin converted to a dining room and office. These rooms have views of two gardens that Maskin designed, including one with hardy plants inspired by visits to tropical areas.

Maskin also designed most of the built-in furniture and cabinets. There are several custom-designed pieces, all made of glulam plywood as the main material, including a daybed in the living room, an armoire, and a bed with built-in storage underneath.

Agate Pass Cabin features works by Scott Fife, Sutton/Beres/Culler, Leiv Fagereng, Karen Rudd, Rebecca (Raven) Lucan, Chris Crites, David Eisenhour, Mary Larson and Klara Glosova amongst others.

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Project Team, Architecture: Alan Maskin, Design Principal and Interior Design; John Kennedy and Hill Pierce, Project Architects.

Project Team, Landscape Design: Alan Maskin, Hardscapes; Duane West and Brian McLaughlin, Plants.

Key Consultants: General Contractor: Krekow Jennings, General Contractor; Nic Rossouw, Giraf Design, Structural Engineer; Niteo, Lighting Design.