This 2,500 square foot urban infill residence is strategically located at the intersection of two major bike routes in the Mount Baker neighborhood of Seattle. The lot is narrow and has panoramic views of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountain Range, including Mount Rainier. The Owners are an active couple who wanted their house to have storage and maintenance space for their 18 bicycles, a strong connection to the exterior, and provide cozy spaces for reading and relaxation.
The Owners were very engaged in our design process, providing us with scent vials meant to evoke sensibilities they wished to experience in their home- cool ocean, woody comfort, industrial, and balanced quiet/calm. They also gave us a metaphor of ‘Iceland’ that provided inspiration for a refined, natural, and stark pallet of materials.
The Ground Floor houses the Garage, Entry, Bike Shop, and an Exercise Room/Office. The Bike Shop opens on to an enclosed Yard for washing and working on bikes.
The Main Floor is an open area for Living, Dining and Kitchen. Sliding glass doors provide wide openings to the expansive views of the lake and mountains. A Guest Bedroom, Bathroom, Pantry and Office are also located on this floor.
The Upper Floor contains the Master Bedroom, Bath, and Laundry Room. A large roof deck is designed for entertaining, sheltered reading, and outdoor sleeping.
Decks and patios at every level allow for a continuous flow from the indoors out.
The Owners wanted a rugged house that incorporated both industrial and natural materials. The exterior is a composition of dark painted fiber cement siding that provides a neutral background for the natural cedar clad Great Room block. The interior is a contrast of black and white with natural wood, plaster, and steel accents. The stair winds around an illuminated translucent wall.
The home provides a durable and comfortable setting for work and life.
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