By Meghan Burger
Tongass Ledge sits gently perched along the western Alaska shore. Overlooking inlet waters and balanced at the edge of a rock wall, two volumes, each leaning at a subtle angle, capture the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Designed by Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects
for a busy client who splits time between Seattle and Ketchikan, the house required a simple form and program that would be personalized through highly custom interiors. Standing at the edge of the vibrant Tongass Narrows, the Ledge is the perfect lookout for a nature lover.
Defined by two tall shed roof structures with a connector between them, the house is divided into private and public spaces. The front door and adjacent mudroom on the eastern side obscured by tree coverage and minimal openings to help create a sense of seclusion from neighbors. Along the west side of the home, the master bedroom and living room extend as cantilevers over the rock wall below, giving a sense of floating above the water. Floor-to-ceiling windows draw the eye to the view beyond and give the interior spaces an outward directionality. A secondary set of lower shed roof volumes within the main building wings create both a seating nook by the living room and a laundry area near the guest bedroom.
PROJECT DETAILS
Design Team:
Principal: Dan Wickline
Project Architect: Brian Watzin
Collaborators:
General Contractor: Marble Construction
Structural Engineer: R&M Engineering
Interior Designer: Emily Knudsen
Cabinetmaker: Matthew Janowicz
Landscape: CJ Davidshofer
Photography: Andrew Pogue
Date of Completion: June 2021
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