Cantilever House – Washington DC, United States
Abodo Vulcan Cladding in Teak was chosen to help blend Cantilever House with its landscaped, tree-lined setting.
Originally built in 1976, this Washington DC home was redesigned with large scale windows and cantilevered forms to capitalise on sunlight and views of the tree-lined property. When it came to cladding, Abodo Vulcan in a Teak coating was specified to further blend the home with its natural setting.
Designed by architect Patrick Brian Jones, this home’s most prominent feature is the glazed living area, which floats over the garden, bringing the branches of the established surrounding trees almost within touching distance.
This welcoming of the outside in is furthered by the use of clear vertical grained timber cladding, finished in a rich Teak tone that echoes the colours of the trees.
Made from FSC® certified, thermally modified New Zealand plantation pine, the cladding is an eco-friendly alternative to old growth timbers such as cedar.
As well as having a similar look and feel to these timbers and a comparable level of hardiness, the product also requires less maintenance due to being coated in Abodo Protector, which uses a combination of plant oils to provide optimal UV, moisture and fungal protection. This makes it an apt choice for a verdant setting such as this one.
With nature the key source of inspiration for the design of Cantilever House, it made sense for the architect to bring in plenty of light and framed views of the outdoors through large scale windows and to incorporate as many natural materials as possible in the redesign.
The Abodo timber is matched with a limestone plinth style patio, and with sections of composite panelling to bring some variation to the exterior. The result is a modernist home that has taken on a whole new lease on life among the trees.
