Let Your Mind Be Changed: A Passive House Story in Olympia

[TOPIC: Passive House living | Passive House comfort | Indoor air quality & ventilation | Energy efficiency & low bills | Thermal & acoustic comfort | Healthy & quiet living | Sustainability & carbon footprint | Durable, low‑maintenance home]

When Zachary and Rachel started dreaming about their home, they imagined something completely different than the one they live in now. What they built instead — a stunning, light-filled Passive House near Boston Harbor — turned out to be exactly what they wanted.

Their advice after the journey? Let your mind be changed.

How It Started

In 2014, Zachary and Rachel bought a piece of land near Boston Harbor in Olympia. They hosted barbecues there while trying to imagine what kind of house would belong on it. They knew one thing for sure: they wanted a sustainable home.

When they discovered our work at Artisans Group, they realized that our Passive House approach — rooted in building science, sustainability, and modern design — matched their vision.

“We looked at the portfolio and thought, Wow, this really does stand out,” Zachary recalls.

Choosing the Right Team

Rachel says the partnership clicked from the beginning:

“Artisans Group was a good match because they were as concerned about the science behind building a house as we were. Plus, the modern aesthetic and simplicity just felt right. The team was fun, too — it felt like we could hang out with them throughout this process.”

The Design Process

Neither Zachary nor Rachel knew what to expect when working with an architect. What surprised them was how many decisions and details go into designing a home — and how much fun it can be when the collaboration works.

“Our first meetings were really fun,” Zachary says. “We discovered we had strong opinions about layout, and a strong response to our land — where the sun comes from, the wind, the views. Those things helped guide the design.”

They started with the land itself — the sunlight, the viewsheds, and how they wanted to experience nature from inside their home. The kitchen became the heart of the design, built for cooking and gathering with friends.

Living in Their Passive House

The home is open, bright, and alive with connection to the outdoors.

“Even on gray days, we don’t need to turn on lights,” Rachel says. “We see eagles, coyotes, and deer from the windows. It’s just huge and open — you can always hear everyone, so it always feels like we’re together.”

Zachary adds,

“We always call it this-century modern. It’s clean, durable, and simple — but full of life.”

Inside, the temperature stays remarkably stable thanks to the Passive House design.

“The temperature swing is only a few degrees,” he explains. “In winter, radiant heat in the concrete floors keeps it warm. In summer, we ventilate at night and stay comfortable all day.”

The Power of Light

For Rachel, the most striking feature is how light shapes the space.

“We made design choices all the way through to bring light deep into the house — clerestory windows in the guest bath, a skylight in the laundry room. Even in the back, it’s bright. That’s part of what makes it efficient — we rarely turn on lights.”

Advice for Future Homeowners

Rachel and Zachary agree: you don’t have to be an expert to build your dream home. What matters is knowing how you want to live and staying open to the process.

“We came with ideas, and Tessa and her team brought more,” Rachel says. “We ended up with a house I couldn’t have pictured at the beginning — and it’s exactly the one I wanted. So my advice? Let your mind be changed.”

Zachary adds,

“Educate yourself — not just about building science, but about what you want your home to feel like. That’s where it all begins.”

A Partnership in Trust and Creativity

This project reminds us why collaboration is so powerful. When clients bring curiosity and openness — and architects bring expertise and imagination — the result can be something beyond what either envisioned alone.

Zachary and Rachel’s home is proof: sustainability, beauty, and comfort can live in harmony when you trust the process and let your mind be changed.

© Artisans Group Architecture + Planning — Sustainable Architecture, Passive House, and Passive Building Design Experts