Heliotrope Architects recently completed a 3,000-square-foot home in Seattle, designed to capture the site's abundant lake and mountain views by strategically locating living spaces on the top floor. To minimize the home's apparent scale, its three levels are shifted rather than stacked neatly on top of one another.
The design places living spaces on the top floor, ensuring the view in perpetuity, and incorporates an elevator shaft allowing for aging in place. Garage and support spaces are placed below grade, with the second-floor entry flush with grade at the high portion of the site.
The 15ft elevation change from sidewalk to the front door is mitigated by generous stairs, broken up by a garden space and gateway signifying a transition from public to private realms. Significant existing trees and shrubs were leveraged in the design, creating a rich entry experience and a strong connection to nature from both the entry and upper floor. The home's strong street presence and bold modernity respond to a neighborhood context rich with excellent examples of mid-century modern architecture.
Photography: Haris Kenjar