On a narrow peninsula in northwest Washington State, a new residential development is taking shape that integrates architecture with environmental awareness. Governors Point, an innovative project spanning 125 acres, features 16 houses situated on 27 acres, with the remainder designated as a nature reserve accessible to the public. The land is owned by Randy Bishop, co-founder of the lighting company Bocci, alongside architect Omer Arbel, who designed the homes with a focus on sustainability and connection to the surrounding forest.

The project’s design theme pays tribute to the region’s declining cedar forests, which are threatened by climate change. Arbel has incorporated cedar wooden spheres—attached to the houses’ exteriors with steel rods—as symbolic elements he refers to as “cedar’s swansong.” Over time, these spheres are expected to weather naturally, developing a silvery patina and fostering the growth of moss and lichens, thereby blending the structures more fully with their environment.

The homes are planned with fluid, sinuous interiors, with some spaces resembling caves and others offering expansive views of the water. Mature trees within the lots will be preserved carefully, protected from the impacts usually associated with construction. Additionally, Arbel intends to provide homeowners with maps identifying the exact locations where their home’s timber was sourced.

Landscape elements also reflect a strong ecological sensibility. Driveways and walkways are paved in zigzag patterns that mirror the undulating tree lines on both sides, while native plants will be cultivated in soil layers affixed to the roofs to extend the local forest floor ecosystem. Interior walls will feature hemispherical indentations created using sawdust satchels, adding texture, and local quartz is being infused into the concrete surfaces to provide natural pigmenting.

Bishop’s own residence, positioned at the development’s southern tip, is slated for completion in the fall of this year. Construction on Arbel’s home at the opposite end of the peninsula is underway. The developers have plans to hold occasional public tours of the houses once completed. Additional details are available through governorspoint.org.