Perched on a hillside overlooking fields of cattle and a fishing pond, MW Works' Whidbey Island Farm Retreat serves as a part-time residence and vacation home for a family in the Pacific Northwest. The modest dwelling sits quietly on a pastoral landscape intentionally hidden among a forest of Douglas Firs, not to distract from the property's agricultural heritage. Its three volumes weave through the existing trees, forming a natural courtyard of native shrubs and ferns. Bordered by a wall of local Basalt stone, the courtyard acts as a central link between the different buildings. A natural palette of weathered wood, concrete, locally-quarried stone, and black steel adds a rustic warmth that complements the agrarian setting while walls of glazing create a visual connection between the interior and the bucolic scenery.

Photos: Kevin Scott / MW Works