![Case Inlet Retreat by Mw works](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/11/case-inlet-retreat-by-mw-works-usa-architecture_dezeen_hero-852x479.jpg)
MW Works uses weathered cedar and glass to build waterside Washington retreat
US firm MW Works Architecture + Design has created a holiday home with ample glazing and natural materials, helping it blend with its picturesque surroundings.
Located in northern Washington, the Case Inlet Retreat is nestled into a forested hillside and is named after a body of water it overlooks.
![Case Inlet Retreat by Mw works](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/11/case-inlet-retreat-by-mw-works-usa-architecture_dezeen_2364_col_35-852x619.jpg)
The west side of the dwelling provides expansive views of the Olympic Mountains and the Puget Sound, which connects with the Pacific Ocean.
The cabin is designed to accommodate a range of visitors. "A balance of clean lines and natural materials, this modest retreat is a welcome sanctuary for just two or the full family," said MW Works Architecture + Design, a small Seattle firm founded in 2007.
![Case Inlet Retreat by Mw works](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/11/case-inlet-retreat-by-mw-works-usa-architecture_dezeen_2364_col_23-852x568.jpg)
The upper level of the two-storey home is composed of three intersecting rectilinear volumes with flat roofs and weathered cedar cladding.
One volume contains the master bedroom, while the others encompass a living area, dining room and kitchen. The living room slightly cantilevers over the sloped site.
![Case Inlet Retreat by Mw works](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/11/case-inlet-retreat-by-mw-works-usa-architecture_dezeen_2364_col_26-852x766.jpg)
The bottom floor – which houses a bedroom, bathroom and storage area – is enclosed within concrete walls and is embedded within the site.
The 2,200-square-foot home (205 square metres) features high ceilings and ample glazing, including several window walls. Providing a strong connection to the natural setting was a guiding factor for the design team.
![Case Inlet Retreat by Mw works](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/11/case-inlet-retreat-by-mw-works-usa-architecture_dezeen_2364_col_20-852x567.jpg)
Visitors enter through a subdued front door on the upper level, which leads into the kitchen.
Ipe wood flooring in the kitchen extends to a spacious deck, with a sliding glass door helping to reinforce the seamless transition between inside and out. A metal staircase connects the deck to a rooftop terrace.
![Case Inlet Retreat by Mw works](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/11/case-inlet-retreat-by-mw-works-usa-architecture_dezeen_2364_col_10-852x630.jpg)
An open-plan dining and living area features modern decor and expansive views of the scenic landscape. In the master bathroom, a single large opening is intended to "give the users a ritual of bathing within the forest".
Throughout the home, the architects used a restrained material palette of wood, concrete and metal. High ceilings are intended to evoke the feeling of "sitting outdoors amidst the trees", the studio said.
![Case Inlet Retreat by Mw works](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/11/case-inlet-retreat-by-mw-works-usa-architecture_dezeen_2364_col_11-852x680.jpg)
Other new homes in Washington include a waterfront dwelling by First Lamp Architects that is raised off the ground and a family retreat by Tom Kundig that is set within a valley ringed by mountains.
Photography is by Jeremy Bittermann.
Project Credits:
Architect: MW Works Architecture + Design
Design Team: Eric Walter, Steve Mongillo, Suzanne Stefan
Engineer: Jim Harris, Putnam Collins Scott Associates, Inc.
Contractor: Alford Homes, Inc.