Wallingford

Attached below are a few recent schematic designs for a variety of projects we are working on. As you can see project sizes vary from interior design (micro) to large mixed-use buildings (macro). Throughout the scales there is a consistency in visual language and an approach to create a true utilitarian sculpture. Architecture is present in everyone’s life and can serve as a back drop or a staring role, whether or not the user/viewer realizes it. Well designed spaces inspire creativity, health and happiness.

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Floor framing - Wren Residence

The Wren Residence construction has continued at a steady pace through the holiday season. Below you can see photographs of the demolishion, excavation as well as the forming of the concrete foundation walls. Framing has now begun so the home is taking shape. Follow the live webcam here.

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Wren Residence - East Elevation

The Wren residence broke ground today in Missoula Montana after receiving its permit this morning. The home set on two in-city infill lots sits just a stones throw away from the the University of Montana. The home is designed to house a young active family while providing usable living space outdoors year round. With a harsh winter and sweltering summers Missoula’s climate is a study in contrasts. A serious of raised outdoor “living” rooms were designed to maximize the views of the surrounding hills, access winds during the hot summer months and provide shelter from the hard driving snows in the winter. The massing is broken into two distinct volumes connected by exterior and interior bridges and walkways. One volume houses the homes main functions of living/dining and sleeping. The second Southern volume is an artist studio, garage and accessory dwelling unit for visiting guests. Exterior materials include standing seam corten steel sheets, rain-screened reclaimed barn wood, corten operable panels to allow ventilation, and poured concrete walls. A major consideration in the Montana climate and in any other is energy efficiency. Over the next few months I will highlight some of the features and design techniques used to create the Wren Residence. A live webcam has been installed to track the construction process, watch and enjoy!

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The solution was to design a modest home with a simple and environmentally conscious material pallet. The raw minerit base and radiant concrete floors flowing from interior to exterior, provide a strong connection with structure and site, enhanced by the large expanse of thermal glass doors that open the living level to a protected internal grass courtyard for the children’s play.

The bedroom level, contained within the aluminum band, breaks plane in two directions, once horizontally, and once vertically, to create the shape of the floating Z. By breaking plane, the clients are able to live on the same level in plan with their children as they are young, yet with the bend, they are disconnected enough to feel the privacy they desire as the children age. The void created by this move allows the Z to float above the grounded base of the house while providing natural light to the high ceilings of the kitchen and protected entry.

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Rooftop structure & Deck

WithinSodo was completed last month and had it’s grand opening party lastnight. The building is located in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood (south of downtown), which has a long history of industrial yards, warehouses and factories. The Monkey Building is an early 19oo’s building that housed the far east furniture importation business Year of The Monkey. The building owner has transformed part of the building into a dynamic two level event space including the rooftop addition we designed. The lower level consists of two large rooms with double height ceilings, the walls are adorned by works of local artists (www.leifilvedson.com, www.johnosgood.com). The roof top addition includes a butterfly shaped function space with a large overhang for outdoor events, an internal bar and 2000 sqft of deck space.

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Glass stairs exposed

A young couple with a growing family searched for months to find a site to build their new home on.  After many months and numerous near misses, they abandoned conventional channels and approached a homeowner with an oversized lot in the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood.  A portion of that yard was a separate legal lot, left over from an earlier short plat, that became the site for their new 2510 SF home.  The design necessarily began by addressing the challenges of a small lot, with significant topography and a large easement that maintained an existing driveway. The resulting footprint dictated that a satisfactory living level could only be accomplished on the third floor by means of a 16’ cantilever.  This design challenge was to maintain a connection between the street and the living level through the entry while also maintaining the privacy of the sleeping rooms.  This was accomplished by carrying exterior materials through the circulation spaces and providing visual clues to circulation at the entry by placing glass under the stairs. With limited yard, locating usable outdoor space proximate to living areas was also especially important. A series of interconnected decks flow from the living and kitchen spaces, leading up to the more expansive roof deck. The main volume of the home rises above the street and makes a gesture inward.  The subtle shift of the volume turns to access the distant views, provides a buffer from the nearby intersection, and gives spatial definition to the open planned living spaces.

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My favorite luggage/travel bag of all time!

So I broke down a few months ago and posted about wallpaper so I guess it is that time again. I travel a lot visiting sites and clients overseas and here in the US and have always struggled finding a good travel bag that not only was functional but was also aesthetically appealing. A few years ago I happened to cross paths with an artist and hang bag designer Rian Berry (www.rianbyrian.com) while touring one of our designs in Georgetown. Since then I have followed his product line and development over the years. His bags (which are available in Nordstrom and Metropark among other stores) have a great design quaility about them. His process is more of a painter than a designer and many of his handbags have been inspired by his own artwork. Recently I have become the proud owner of a travel bag (actually two) called the “Breaks”, it is retro yet modern, made of high quality leather and detailed lining. These bags are my go to luggage now and have been perfect for trips overnight or for a week. I prefer to carry-on my bags and these are ideal for doing so. Last week I was invited to walk through his showroom in Downtown Seattle, it was striking. His new womens line of handbags and purses is impressive to say the least and I am excited to see them in stores. He also has created a line called “Poverty Flats” which is a more affordable price point (mostly under $120) that can be found at Urban Outfitters. I love my bags so much I had to share! Attached below are a few of his designs. Check them out and let me know what you think! Also if you are interested he was featured in the Seattle Times.  

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