Site specific, environmentally conscious homes, designed to walk lightly on the land.
Intrinsic Design has teamed up with Driven Design to bring the upper Methow a bigger, better Mazama Store. The store will remain open while construction is underway, so stop in and grab what you need to fuel your adventures while you’re in the Mazama area.
A small but well-planned second story provides a comfortable living space on one floor. A carport with a breezeway allows you to park and enter at the living space level, while internal stairs provide access to the lower studio level of the house. Creating small footprints that maximize utility is a cornerstone of Intrinsic Designs’ philosophy.
The residence is designed with a very high level of energy efficiency and with a consciousness toward environmentally sensitive material choices. An Earthbermed wall and high levels of insulation on the walls and in the roof create an enclosure that approaches Passive House levels of energy efficiency. High efficiency heat pumps provide heating and cooling, while a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) keeps indoor air quaility high.
Simple, clean interior finishes provide a warm living space that is brought to life with natural light pouring in through the windows. Attention paid to siting and window placement ensured that the best views were captured and privacy was maintained. Efficient use of space helps to make the most out of a small footprint.
The Methow Valley Community Center, in Twisp, Washington, is a historic treasure built in 1914 as the school for the greater Twisp area. For the past 35 years, volunteers and passionate nonprofit staff have transformed it into the social hub of the Methow Valley. I was honored to design an energy retrofit to help create an energy efficient solution that preserved the historic character while providing modern levels of comfort with the least amount of energy use.
Early in the design phase, we made sure to prioritize maintaining the historic brick facade that distinguishes the building. An interior insulation solution provided the answer we were looking for. A mechanical engineering firm provided the project with a high efficiency heat pump driven HVAC system with dedicated heat recovered fresh air ventilation.
Once both the gymnasium and the old classroom sections of the MVCC are energy retrofitted, the center will be able to function as a safe sanctuary for the community in times of stress. Be it a heat wave, a cold snap, a crisis of smoke-filled air, or a wildfire in the valley, when people need a place to go, the MVCC will be ready to provide a comfortable space for it’s community to shelter.
At Intrinsic Design, we love the idea of preserving our historic buildings and redesigning them for energy efficiency and modern community needs. If your community is thinking of restoring a historic building and incorporating an energy retrofit, we have the expertise to help guide your design.
Room One is a multifaceted social services nonprofit organization located in the heart of Twisp, Washington. Room One is a community voice, powerfully advocating for the health and well-being of all people living in the Methow Valley. They play the leading role in bringing valuable social services to those in need on our community. With the fast rise in population in the valley, Room One’s services have been in great demand and that has led to a need for an expansion of their facilities. Thus, the addition of two new buildings with an adjoining courtyard, the Room One Campus Social Services Campus.
Intrinsic Design began working with Room One’s Building Committee in the fall of 2020 to develop a plan for a new campus. Two Client Services Buildings plus an Infants Resource Exchange Building make up the built portion of the campus. Additionally, a landscaped courtyard with privacy spaces will join the buildings together.
Once completed, the new campus will have ample space for meeting clients, teaching classes, hosting meetings and throwing the occasional celebration for the community. Indoor and outdoor spaces will flow easily through large sliding doors, shady covered porches and beautifully landscaped spaces.
As we move into the fall of 2025, Blackcap Builders Collective is moving fast towards finishing construction of the second building. Excitement is growing as the full build-out of both Staff Buildings, the Infant Resources Exchange, and the Exterior Courtyard is nearing completion.
Being a part of the existing neighborhood was a driving force behind the design of the exterior of the Room One Social Services Campus. The new building sits on the same lot as the existing building on 2nd and Lincoln Streets in Twisp, Wa.. Architectural style, materials, siding colors and roofing have all been selected to be in harmony with the largely residential neighborhood in which it resides. Fitting in and fostering a sense of community was a priority from the beginning.
We are now offering certified blower door testing for all residential and small commercial construction projects in the Methow Valley.
Intrinsic Design is dedicated to providing clients with high quality blower door testing to ensure Energy Code Compliance and to help you meet your high efficiency goals.
Give us a call or contact us through our contact page for more information.
Rates: $400 for first test $250 for second test
Methow Trails is the keystone provider of winter recreation in the Methow Valley maintaining over 120 miles of groomed Nordic Ski trails every year. Founded in 1977, their influence on the culture of the valley has been profound. Intrinsic Design was deeply honored to be picked to design the Methow Trails Campus.
Maintenance and Events Facilities, Equipment Storage and a new Administration Building (unbuilt as of 2023) are all included in the layout of the new campus. Durability, beauty and energy efficiency are the motivation behind each design choice. A solar array designed for the roof of the Equipment Shed will one day provide the operational energy to help Net Zero the campus energy needs.
The exterior aesthetics of the Methow Trails Campus honors the agricultural heritage of the Methow. To that end, we used dark rough sawn board and batten siding and traditional gable roof shapes. Details like gable look outs, steel wainscoting and post and beam elements reinforce the look.
The Administration Building is still in the line up to be built. This structure will provide the administration staff with a comfortable home to keep the operations running smoothly and a place to continue to plan great all seasonal events. Passive House inspired building assemblies will ensure the highest level of energy efficiency and the least use of resources. Creating the smallest foot print on resources possible is a primary goal for the Methow Trails Campus.
Intrinsic Design welcomes inquiries for other non profit based and commercial design work. We really enjoy working with a group of people with a vision and will do our best to help you meet all of your goals!
