Building History

A 20-foot by 20-foot wood-frame cabin erected in 1962, previously stood on this site. The previous owners and their son built the cabin, which was removed when this new three-building retreat was added. Jack Colgrove Construction served as the builder and Strong Work Structural Engineering, Incorporated, the structural engineer. Architect Wittman was inspired by the killdeer, a ground-nesting bird that has a wide habitat, including in WA State. An article in the Seattle Times said of the bird's influence on the project, quoting Wittman: "'Unlike most birds, the killdeer doesn't bring outside vegetation to built its nest; it pulls away the existing bruch, burrowing into the existing forest...They create an edge,' he says--on open ground, maybe in gravel, maybe only a teensy little depression lined with a few nearby stones. Lightly. Simply. With minimum disruption, fuss and materials, the killdeer crafts a family home." (See Sandy Deneau Dunham, "Of Birds and Balance," Seattle Times Pacific NW Magazine, 08/04/2019. p. 16.)

John and Pat Troth lived in Indiana, and their children resided in Toronto, ON, and North Carolina. They used this house as a family retreat.

Building Notes

The Troth House received a Merit Award, AIA Honor Awards for Washington in 2018.

PCAD id: 23045