Those training for an ascent of Mount Rainier will be familiar with the Blaine Street Stairway on West Capitol Hill. On an adjacent lot, concealed from public view by dense vegetation, an abandoned single family home has been replaced by two residences perched high above Lake Union.
The site owes its sweeping views to a natural promontory, with steep slopes on three sides prone to landslides. There are many similar sites in Seattle that are usually considered unbuildable; however, through a careful analysis of land use requirements, a lot boundary adjustment, and stringent stormwater control strategies, the design team was able to not only carve out a buildable site and stabilize the hillside, but make the homes feel well-rooted in their place.
The side-by-side arrangement gives equal access to light and views to both units. Accessed via separated private entryways, the units reveal themselves from the wide open middle floor; from here stairs lead up to the master suite and roof deck and down to the lower floor, which contains spaces designed to be usable in a variety of ways. All spaces are visually connected with each other through open floor plans and ample daylightling, and each level provides access to decks, patios or courtyards.
The exterior cladding is stucco in a rainscreen application, offset by areas of waxed steel and reclaimed Alaskan yellow cedar siding. Interior and exterior detailing is restrained in order to make the spaces as visually fluid and boundless as possible. Built-in casework provides discreet storage and contributes significantly to the individuality of each unit.
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