Cle Elum vacation home offers getaway

The house: Set on 10 acres in Cle Elum, it's a vacation getaway for an Eastside couple who told their architect they "wanted to take some chances," he says.

Indeed, though it's to be used in the winter as their ski base, it's no cabin. Rather, it's three modern, streamlined structures connected by enclosed breezeways. One contains the master suite; it can be closed off for privacy when overnight guests are present. Another contains the "bunkhouse" for the couple's two teenagers, plus friends and relatives

In between is an 800-square-foot living, dining and kitchen structure with three sets of French doors facing a large, oval patio that connects the three buildings and greatly extends the entertaining area.

Inside the house is quality but not luxury. Countertops are laminate, floors are wood, as are the sloped ceilings.

Because the home is set in a forest of pine and fir, the entire exterior is fire retardant. The roof and window frames are metal; the siding is Cascade granite and cement. There's also an interior sprinkler system.

Architect: Lane Williams. "We were trying to build a house that's rugged, fireproof, but without being rustic or cabin-like in a traditional way," he says. "So there's a combination of ruggedness and refinement."

The biggest break from tradition is the geometry of the floor plan — three trapezoids. "It's not just that they're angled, but that they're pulled apart into three structures. I did that to provide privacy and create the opportunity to wrap around an outdoor living space and feel protected."

Owners: Floyd and Judy Rogers. Having employed Williams a dozen years ago to design their home, they returned to him this time for a vacation getaway intended to be used by the family for generations to come.

"They were willing to spend what it took to make something that will last," says Williams. "They didn't care about luxury 'stuff.' They just wanted a well-built house."

Contractor: Norm Gove.

Judges' comments: "A brilliant exploration of form and materials. The interior volumes created by the clipped gable form are masterfully handled and produce a dynamic sense of space appropriate to the rugged mountain terrain of the site and views. The use of granite on the exterior puts the home at one with its site."

Size: 2,800 square feet.

Construction cost: $560,000.

Tour hours: Noon to 4 p.m. today (Sunday) only.

Address: 320 Palouse Road, Cle Elum.

Driving directions: This house is a 90-minute drive from downtown Seattle.

Take I-90 east over Snoqualmie Pass, to first Cle Elum exit (Exit 84).

Turn right at the Information Center onto South Cle Elum Way.

Follow the winding road through South Cle Elum.

Turn right onto Upper Peoh Point Road.

Go 4.5 miles and turn right (just after crossing canal) onto Cassasa Road.

Go up Cassasa three-quarters of a mile, and turn right onto Palouse Road.

Park on the road and walk up the driveway, following Times open house signs.

The Seattle Times/AIA Open House program began in 1954. All licensed architects are encouraged to submit their residential work for consideration. Nominees are reviewed by the Seattle Chapter, AIA Open House committee. Call 206-448-4938.