Pb elemental architecture http://elementalarchitecture.com Our work, Modern Architecture, Design & more Tue, 08 May 2012 18:23:09 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 White Rock, BC – LEED Platinum Prefab http://elementalarchitecture.com/white-rock-bc-leed-platinum-prefab/ http://elementalarchitecture.com/white-rock-bc-leed-platinum-prefab/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 18:23:09 +0000 Chris Pardo http://elementalarchitecture.com/?p=379 Continue reading →]]>

Beachaus South Facade

If you have been following this blog or us on facebook you have probably seen the beginning of the White Rock Beachaus Prefab homes we designed for Inhaus Development These two homes were built by the Seattle firm based out of Ferndale, WA Method Homes. Designed to fit on a small corner lot in the beach town of White Rock in Southern British Columbia. Each home featured unique floor plans taking advantage of the view corridor, light and privacy while maintaining a consistent architectural language. There are four modular “boxes” that make up each home with site built garages and a site built office. See the images below to see how they finished!

]]> http://elementalarchitecture.com/white-rock-bc-leed-platinum-prefab/feed/ 0 Azaya Residence – Leschi http://elementalarchitecture.com/azaya-residence-leschi/ http://elementalarchitecture.com/azaya-residence-leschi/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 23:27:17 +0000 Chris Pardo http://elementalarchitecture.com/?p=376 Continue reading →]]>

Azaya Residence - South Facade

The Azaya Residence was recently completed. Designed using the existing foundation of the former dilapidated home that occupied the corner view lot. The floor plan is designed around a central core that separates the bedrooms and studio with a hall and open-riser steel stair. The reverse floor plan (living on second floor) affords the home views to the East of Lake Washington and Mercer Island. The main living level was designed to be open and bright, capitalizing on light while maintaining privacy. Adjacent to the extensive green-roof  outdoor staircase access the private rooftop deck. 

]]> http://elementalarchitecture.com/azaya-residence-leschi/feed/ 0 Elemental Architecture – Recent Schematic Designs http://elementalarchitecture.com/elemental-architecture-recent-schematic-designs/ http://elementalarchitecture.com/elemental-architecture-recent-schematic-designs/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:03:19 +0000 Chris Pardo http://elementalarchitecture.com/?p=371 Continue reading →]]>

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.

]]> http://elementalarchitecture.com/elemental-architecture-recent-schematic-designs/feed/ 0 Wren Construction Updates http://elementalarchitecture.com/wren-construction-updates/ http://elementalarchitecture.com/wren-construction-updates/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:11 +0000 Chris Pardo http://elementalarchitecture.com/?p=367 Continue reading →]]> Floor framing - Wren Residence

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.

]]> http://elementalarchitecture.com/wren-construction-updates/feed/ 0 Wren Residence – Missoula, MT construction start/ blog launched http://elementalarchitecture.com/wren-residence-missoula-mt-construction-start-blog-launched/ http://elementalarchitecture.com/wren-residence-missoula-mt-construction-start-blog-launched/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:34:14 +0000 Chris Pardo http://elementalarchitecture.com/?p=352 Continue reading →]]>

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!

]]> http://elementalarchitecture.com/wren-residence-missoula-mt-construction-start-blog-launched/feed/ 1 Story of a 9′ 6″ wide Modern Home http://elementalarchitecture.com/story-of-a-9-6-wide-modern-home/ http://elementalarchitecture.com/story-of-a-9-6-wide-modern-home/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:56:12 +0000 Chris Pardo http://elementalarchitecture.com/?p=348 Continue reading →]]> The Lid Park Residence now sits across from freeway park in Seattle Washington. The home itself is merely 9′ 6″ wide. Why you ask? During the construction of the I-90 tunnel that now connects Seattle to Mercer Island and Bellevue beyond, some properties remained as access easements. This lot is one of them, it is a 19’6″ wide parcel that had sat vacant for over 40 years. With the City of Seattle setbacks a home built on the site would have to be less then ten feet wide. So it sat. We were approached by our client with the challenge of creating a light airy and usable space within this tiny footprint. Excited about the challenge and guided by the unique dimensions we embraced the incredibly sustainable building technique of prefab. Often people are mistaken thinking prefab means the same design or module repeated many times. In our case any home prefab or not that we design is custom to the site, environment, clients needs and program. The Lid Park residence was designed to maximize light while maintaining privacy and creating an open feel despite it’s narrow confinements. The home is just over 1200 sqft featuring three levels, one (the lower) is site built and contains an office nook, bathroom, second bedroom and a laundry area. The middle level (first of the prefab levels) contains a dining room, living room, and kitchen, the top floor contains a master suite and rooftop deck. The modular construction was completed by Method Homes a local prefab builder.

]]> http://elementalarchitecture.com/story-of-a-9-6-wide-modern-home/feed/ 2 Z-House Ravenna http://elementalarchitecture.com/z-house-ravenna/ http://elementalarchitecture.com/z-house-ravenna/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:25:03 +0000 Chris Pardo http://elementalarchitecture.com/?p=338 Continue reading →]]> Located on a quiet street just above the Ravenna ravine, Z House creates a private and calming refuge for a fast paced family of four. The clients came with a few simple ideas and an elevated lot that housed an existing garage to remain. They desired a home that would withstand the climate and lifespan through low maintenance and honest materials, zero unoccupied space within home and a solution to having two young and energetic boys on the same plan level as the master bedroom, yet somehow disconnected for privacy.

 

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.

]]> http://elementalarchitecture.com/z-house-ravenna/feed/ 2 Shorter Residence – Wenatchee http://elementalarchitecture.com/shorter-residence-wenatchee/ http://elementalarchitecture.com/shorter-residence-wenatchee/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:27:23 +0000 Chris Pardo http://elementalarchitecture.com/?p=332 Continue reading →]]> Located in the Wenatchee Valley the Shorter Residence was an addition to a 1906 apple orchard farm house. The original structure had already been rebuilt by our client on the interior with modern finishes and a minimalist touch. We were brought on to design a master suite and living room addition that would take advantage of the views of the surrounding valley and reflect the changing climate. The house is more than just a residence, the clients also run a ski team and house many of the team in the home at one time or another during the season. The master was to be designed as a refuge for the couple and their newborn. Exterior materials include corten standing seam, polycarbonate, cement fiber panels and cedar rainscreen siding.

]]> http://elementalarchitecture.com/shorter-residence-wenatchee/feed/ 2 Chicago – Prefab and beyond http://elementalarchitecture.com/chicago-prefab-and-beyond/ http://elementalarchitecture.com/chicago-prefab-and-beyond/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:26:08 +0000 Chris Pardo http://elementalarchitecture.com/?p=327 Continue reading →]]> Recently I had the opportunity to meet a client who is currently developing in the Chicago area. What I didn’t expect is to meet was a developer with so much vision. Over the last few weeks we have collaborated in creating a new language for his work that emphasises sustainability, density, and the use of modern construction techniques. Our schematic design for his next site will be built in the Wicker Park area and feature nine condominiums and two commercial spaces. The commercial spaces have been designed to accommodate a restaurant with outdoor seating (covered and uncovered to maximize it’s usage in the Illinois varying weather) and a retail store to continue the urban fabric that has been created through some local boutique stores. The structure it-self is made up of thirty-three modules 16′ in width and 20-45′ in depth. The entire structure above the concrete first floor is modular prefab including the circulation core. A south facing green roof incorporates solar panels above the garage and an extensive green roof occupies the upper level roof. The project will be LEED certified and exemplify sustainable building techniques acting as a catalyst for green development in the neighborhood and surrounding areas.

]]> http://elementalarchitecture.com/chicago-prefab-and-beyond/feed/ 0 WithinSodo Event Space (Monkey Building) http://elementalarchitecture.com/withinsodo-event-space-monkey-building/ http://elementalarchitecture.com/withinsodo-event-space-monkey-building/#comments Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:10:56 +0000 Chris Pardo http://elementalarchitecture.com/?p=320 Continue reading →]]>  

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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