Designed for developers Dunn+Hobbes, 1310 East Union, a multistory, mixed use building in the Capital Hill neighborhood of Seattle, accommodates eight loft style condominium units on a 40-foot by 80-foot, urban site, bounded by buildings on three sides. Parking for eight cars is provided in a stacked configuration using European parking lifts. The residential floors contain two units each varying in size from 700 square-feet to 1600 square-feet. The top two floors each contain side by side two-story condominiums with city, sound and mountain views, west facing balconies, mezzanines and shared access to a private rooftop garden.
Taking advantage of additional natural light and views of the city and mountains beyond. The building solution is simple: a seven-story, steel -framed glass box flanked by solid party walls. This steel structure conveys a sense of lightness and transparency. Given the small site with virtually no lay-down area, the steel structural approach provided the contractor with a rapid erection sequence. The primary gravity load system was coated with fire retardant, intumescent paint where the diagonal bracing and mezzanine structure is exposed steel. The building is meant to invest an image of structural architecture, conveying a sense of economy, efficiency, discipline and order. The north and south facades, fully glazed floor to ceiling, maximize light transmission and preserve the connection to the outdoors - vital to Seattle residents. Glass and aluminum-frame garage doors roll up converting the living and dining spaces to exterior balconies. Interior materials include: concrete floors, exposed steel structural elements, steel railings, steel plate baseboards and modular metal kitchen casework supporting butcher-block counters. All units are heated with radiant slabs.