Following our previous visit to Tennessee-based HK Architects, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to Washington this week to explore the work of mwworks architecture + design.

Founded in 2007, the Seattle-based firm has built a portfolio spanning architectural and interior design services for residential and commercial clients. “Several aspects of our work tend to stand out,” the firm’s founding partners Steve Mongillo and Eric Walter told our Studio Snapshot series in 2021. “The material palette, the attention to craft and detail, and the relationships of spaces — both within the buildings and in the landscape beyond. Our favorite work has a clarity or simplicity but also a calm and warmth that comes from the layering of materials and textures.”

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently seeking several professionals to join their Seattle office. For candidates interested in applying for the position or anybody interested in learning more about the firm’s output, we have rounded up four homes in the Pacific Northwest by mwworks that exemplify the firm’s ethos.

Whidbey Farm, Freeland, WA

The house at Whidbey Farm was designed with respect to turn-of-the-century farm buildings on the site. Perched on a low hill bordering a nearby forest, the home is formed around a courtyard of natural grasses and erns, with rooms woven between cedar and fir trees. Meanwhile, a low wall of stacked natural stone loosely defines the courtyard perimeter. Inside, the home is designed to be flexible and durable, intended as a part-time residence for a large local family.

“With a palette of naturally weathered woods, concrete, stone walls, and black steel accents, the house strives to be warm and rustic, simple and open,” mwworks says about the scheme. “A house that honors both the forest and agricultural heritage of the site.”

Case Inlet Retreat, Case Inlet, WA

Located on a forested slope on the eastern edge of Case Inlet with a view of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, the Case Inlet Retreat is defined by a bold concrete cantilever projecting the living and dining room into the forest. Continuing the theme of interior-to-exterior flows, an ipe deck extends from inside the kitchen towards an external meadow separated only by a large sliding glass door. Meanwhile, a broad flat roof hovers over the living spaces to create the feeling of sitting outdoors among the trees.

“Smaller, thoughtfully placed apertures define the exterior of the bedroom volume, along with a single large opening belonging to the master bath to give the users a ritual of bathing within the forest,” the firm adds. “A balance of simple lines and rugged low maintenance materials, this modest retreat is a welcome sanctuary from the city.”

Little House, Hood Canal, WA

The Little House is built into a forest overlooking Washington State’s Hood Canal. Built on an existing foundation, the 20-square-foot cabin was designed to deliver a compact, modern structure that was both simple and efficient. Externally, visitors approach the site from the south where a thin canopy marks the entry and frames views of the water.

“Taut oxidized black cedar and blackened cement infill panels clad the exterior while lightly painted panels and soft pine plywood warm and brighten the interior,” the firm notes. “The resulting project hopes to capture the essence of the modern cabin — small in size but much larger than its boundaries.”

Helen Street, Seattle, WA

Designed for clients seeking a move back to Seattle from rural surroundings, Helen Street sought to distill the clients’ love of the vibrancy of the city in a small footprint. From early discussions, a brief evolved for a simple, modern structure with a quiet palette built on a modest budget. Other key principles of the project included a feeling of openness and light without sacrificing privacy and, ultimately, a “quiet design integrated with the landscape that would create a tangible calmness in the home.”

“The concept grew from this premise, drawing complexity from the opportunities and constraints of an urban corner lot,” the firm explains. “A courtyard in the center of the site brings light and private outdoor space deeper into the site and serves as an organizational hub. The result is a project that is simple but very intentional and serves as a backdrop to the landscape and the lifestyle of its inhabitants.”

Meet Your Next Employer is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our Job Highlights series looks at intriguing and topical employment opportunities currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.