Regional Modern Architecture: Seattle Splendor

My Regional Modern series now goes to the West Coast, the house of and therefore a fantastic deal of the houses on the website. We start at the Northwest, in Seattle, a town which is”blessed with a putting unsurpassed in natural splendor by any other town in the nation,” according to Sally Woodridge and Roger Montgomery within their Guide to Architecture in Washington Sate.

This assertion, along with the high quality design that adopts these natural states, make me want to see, however, a virtual visit will have to do for now. That is fine, since one contention of this series is that surfing modern and contemporary houses in a particular area allows for an adequate reading of the area. A visit is obviously necessary for gaining comprehension via experience, but architectural expression is a beneficial method of understanding what makes a place unique.

More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Boston | Austin | NYC | NY Metro | Oregon | No. Calif.. | San Francisco | L.A. | Coastal L.A.

BAAN layout

This photo does a fantastic job of outlining the pure beauty of the Seattle area that Woodridge and Montgomery cite, as well as the ways architects respond to it. They frame the landscape through large openings and supply outdoor space for shooting in the stunning views.

Eggleston Farkas Architects

While a different home then the prior photo, we may observe the massive glass wall, terrace, and a plan which projects towards a concentrated view. The solid side walls help to emphasize this view; they also decrease the number of window openings to make the home more insulated from the cold. Notice the way in which the home floats above the landscape…

Eggleston Farkas Architects

This is because, according to the architects, the home sits on a”hilltop occupied with a decommissioned military bunker.” They included a garage adjacent to the bunker but otherwise just lifted the construction on the steel columns, turning the artifact into”the world’s coolest play fort”

Eggleston Farkas Architects

Located on a ridge across the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, this off-the-grid holiday house is cut into the ridge but opens up itself through glass to the south. See a closer view, next.

Eggleston Farkas Architects

Here we view the gorgeous horizon this retreat opens up to. Enough said.

Lane Williams Architects

From a mountain to a forest. This home is nestled inside the trees, a circumstance that eliminates one view. Nevertheless we see way the windows are selectively placed relative to the climate and environment.

Lane Williams Architects

A double-height space receives the gas, while other, more private spaces have smaller windows. The fireplace is a very strong element that illustrates the heat of the massive area.

Lane Williams Architects

This remodel by the same architects as the home in the trees adds an upper ground which counts towards the water. Large windows and a terrace below that make the most of the view.

David Vandervort Architects

Among the more popular modern houses on is this house overlooking Flowing Lake. Glass outside walls hit the lake, as does a terrace off to the side. The roof terrace is a particularly nice touch which lifts people that much higher into the trees.

Eggleston Farkas Architects

This home overlooking Puget Sound is easy wood-clad box, but the primary view can be seen at left and right through the front door. Looking at the other side…

Eggleston Farkas Architects

The home that is mainly strong in front is just about glass overlooking the water. The method by which in which the roof wraps the wall down to become a small porch adjacent to the glass wall is a nice touch.

Coates Design Architects Seattle

This and the following house exemplify one common gesture I found in Seattle-area houses: strong bases. Here we see CMU walls anchoring the home to the website below timber walls. The latter is where the windows are located, so the base is left strong.

This home consists of ground-floor volumes in wood and concrete which support a top-floor volume set in a vertical. In this case, very similar to the previous photo, the solid areas create privacy but also balance the large areas of glassso the home can stay warm indoors.

In our slow movement into the city we can observe some of the same themes: solid(ish) ground floor with more glazing upstairs. The large windows capture distant views.

Eggleston Farkas Architects

We see a fairly solid ground floor and a spacious upper floor; the latter is obviously pointing towards the fabulous view over the neighbor’s home.

More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Boston | Austin | NYC | NY Metro | Oregon | No. Calif.. | San Francisco | L.A. | Coastal L.A.

Next: More Inspiring Architecture
Modern vs. Contemporary: What is the Difference?

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