Garden House Seattle, Washington Home Images, American Property, Architecture, Architect

Garden House in Seattle

American Residential Property in Washington, USA – design by Balance Associates

Oct 15, 2016

Garden House, Seattle

Location: Seattle, Washington, USA

Design: Balance Associates

Garden House in Seattle

This 3000 sq. ft. single family residence is located on a +/-2.5 acre Urban Western Washington site which includes a class (3) salmon stream running through the property.

The design of the house is geared towards integrating the building into the landscape and extensive native planting. The connection to the site and landscape is developed through a progression of spaces along the main circulation spine through the home.

Cut off from the street by an 8’ concrete block wall the design intentionally captures the user and pulls them through the home and into the landscape. The main entry reveals itself at the end a meandering stone and concrete path as a low, sheltered intimate space.

The stained concrete floor and wood ceiling transition seamlessly from exterior to interior. Drawn along the main circulation spine and guided by the exposed wood ceiling structure a private interior courtyard / garden is revealed.

The main hall turns and reveals the main living space, dining area and kitchen. The glazed end wall of the main living space draws the user into the bright double height vaulted ceiling w/ exposed steel and curved glue lam beams.

The boundary between interior and exterior space is blurred as the interior stained concrete floor and the exposed curved wood ceiling transition into covered out door exterior spaces and disappearing into the landscape. The curved roof forms reduce the overall scale e of the building and integrate the building into the landscape vs. on it.

The landscape features include rain gardens for on site storm water retention and irrigation, wood chip paths and an open meadow. Plantings in and around the home are developed around using native species.

An energy efficient home the house is built using an Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) system made from recycled wood chip fibers. Reclaimed wood is used throughout the interior and exterior of house for trim and wood work. An existing standing dead Madorona tree was salvaged and used for custom cabinetry in the home. All the materials and finishes used in the house are Low / no VOC. Additional Green Design and Healthy Home building principles are employed through the passive and active heating, cooling and ventilation systems used.

Garden House in Seattle – Building Information

Architect: Balance Associates, Architects
Tom Lenchek AIA, Principal
Jeff Babienko AIA, Lead Architect
Timothy Posey, Design Team
General Contractor: Fulks, Inc
Structural Engineer: Harriott Engineers
Mechanical Engineer Engineer: Ecotope
Civil Engineer: Concept Engineering
LPD Engineering
Interiors: Balance Associates, Architects
Landscape Designer: Stenn Design
Completed: August 2006
House: 2400 square feet (house), 540 square feet (garage, 900 square feet (patio)
Site: +/- 2.5 Acres