'the rambler' by GO'C glows among pacific northwest forests

a brick-screened home completes north of seattle

The Rambler, hidden within a heavily wooded site northwest of Seattle, is a luminous brick home by architecture firm GO’C. The residence occupies a cherished piece of family property on the Kitsap Peninsula just a few blocks from a small beach town. The design grounds itself in its natural surroundings, with a strong emphasis on materiality and form, ensuring the structure connects harmoniously with the landscape. The project is constructed through a close collaboration with local craftsmen, whose years of shared experiences in making have shaped the home’s character.

images © Kevin Scott

go’c Crafts a Space for gathering and Solitude

The architects at GO’C organize The Rambler with a straightforward program, as the three-bedroom, two-bath home caters to the needs of a musician and an architect. At 1,700 square feet, the house maintains a modest scale but extends its reach into the environment. The roof and screen walls create functional outdoor spaces on all sides, framing opportunities for a garden, a guest house, and gatherings around a firepit.

Designed with an eye toward future growth, the structure allows for potential expansion and adapts to the needs of the inhabitants as their lifestyle evolves. The relationship between the home and its surroundings is further amplified by the elevated roof terrace, which offers views of the sky and the trees, making it a space for both relaxation and contemplation.

the Rambler is located on the Kitsap Peninsula northwest of Seattle

Materiality and Structure: Grounded in the Earth

The design of The Rambler by GO’C is based on a solid rectangular volume that stretches horizontally across the site. This form is punctured and carved to create a balance between privacy and openness, allowing natural light and ventilation to enter. The relationship between the ground and the roof plane is central to the design, with the house’s horizontal stretch emphasizing a connection to the earth.

A raised concrete base serves as both structure and heating source, integrating radiant hydronic piping into the floor slab. This concrete base not only provides stability but also establishes a solid visual presence, contrasting with the lighter and more porous elements above.

The roof plane is a defining feature of The Rambler, sheltering the home while providing ample outdoor space. Carved in select areas to allow light and fresh air to enter, it creates voids that open up to the sky and surrounding trees. These apertures provide slices of light that wash over the walls and fill the interior spaces with a soft, natural glow. The single vertical element in the design, a site-cast fireplace and chimney, stands as a totem marking the heart of the living space. It is in this space that the home’s soul is most evident.

the residence sits on a secluded wooded site on family-owned property

The material palette of The Rambler reflects a commitment to durability and timelessness. The concrete base and full-height masonry walls create a sense of permanence, while the deeply raked mortar joints offer texture and contrast to the smooth concrete surfaces.

The materials selected for the project were chosen for their low-maintenance qualities and their ability to improve with age. Local Douglas fir, harvested from the site, was milled and used for the roof’s finish lid, kitchen shelves, and a coffee table. Cedar, also milled on-site, was employed for the entry door, benches, and privacy fences, further integrating the house with its natural environment.

the home is designed as a three-bedroom, two-bath dwelling with spaces for creative activities

A key element in the design of The Rambler is the seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces. Brick screen walls extend into the landscape, creating semi-enclosed exterior rooms that filter light and provide privacy. These walls dissolve the boundaries between the structure and its surroundings, allowing the green of the landscape to flow right up to the perimeter walls and, in some cases, into the home itself.

The entry garden, for example, is a space that invites the landscape directly into the heart of the residence. This bucolic integration of nature and architecture ensures that The Rambler remains a part of the land it occupies.

a raised concrete base serves as structure and heating while providing a visual weight