Barbee Mill Beach Club

Renton, Washington Connor Homes 2008 BALA Award - Best Community Facility With forms and materials inspired by the old sawmill that previously stood on this site as well as the boathouses that populate the shores of Lake Washington, The Beach Club at Barbee Mill is rugged and refined, a perfect blend of the Pacific Northwest lifestyle. The surprisingly simple building is covered by a single roof plane of exposed timbers and fir decking that is continuous from inside to out with broad, sheltering overhands and flying brackets. Under the roof is the main gathering space, enclosed in glass and anchored by a stone fireplace, and the outdoor room - complete with plentiful seating, an outdoor kitchen and a large gas grill, the ideal place to enjoy an evening at the lake with family and friends. Two fire pits, a dock, a sunny lawn, beach grass, nesting ospreys, fresh air and waves surround this Beach Club, making a careful balance between the building and its place.