Cantilever House Lot size: 3,500 sf Building Size: 1,900 sf (Residence ...
Cantilever House Lot size: 3,500 sf Building Size: 1,900 sf (Residence), 600 sf (Mother-in-Law) Location: 1208 E Hamlin St, Seattle WA Project Type: Residential
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Cantilever House The clients, both working professionals, lived in a small Seattle bungalow for fifteen years on a small site that overlooks Portage Bay and the University of Washington campus to the northeast. They loved the convenient location to the University and downtown Seattle, and the dynamic water views filled with rowing shells and sailboats. But the inefficient bungalow was cold in the winter and hot in the summer, had poor natural light, and suffered from significant water intrusion problems. The couple decided to construct a new house on the same property, one that would distill their urban lifestyle on an equally small footprint, yet that was specifically tailored to the qualities of the site. To assist in financing the project, they chose to devote a third of the available living area to a rentable motherin-law apartment. Early design discussions focused on a simple modern structure with a restrained material palette constructed on a very modest budget. The Owners desired a home that was open, light-filled and private but also transparent and oriented towards the water and city views. Above all, they desired a design which allowed for both the residence and mother-in-law apartment to capitalize on the sweeping views, while allowing for distinct privacy between both programs.
The resulting design places the primary residential living spaces on the upper floor of the structure, and the mother-in-law unit on the lower floor at the back of the site. The building turns its back to the street while opening up to the views to the northeast through a large glazed corner window system. The primary architectural strategy was to connect the exterior entry, primary interior living spaces, and exterior patio as a continuous spatial experience. A series of stepped concrete site walls leads you gradually up to a covered exterior entry, which opens onto a compressed entry foyer, which in turn leads to a double height space that welcomes you up a generous stair to the second floor living spaces. An exterior stair then connects you back down to a small patio at grade. A small concrete bbq structure provides privacy from the neighboring properties. The limited construction budget was focused on key spaces and experiences. The outcome is a project that is economical and site specific, while rich in spatial experience.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
South Elevation The primary architectural strategy was to connect the exterior entry, primary interior living spaces, and exterior patio as a continuous spatial experience.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
South Elevation Detail Custom stained rough-sawn cedar siding contrasts with the smooth concrete walls.
Entry Hall Careful attention was given to the placement and proportions of the concrete site walls.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Entry Steps The entry steps lead visitors gradually up to a cantilevered entry.
Entry Hall The outdoor covered entry leads into a peaceful foyer. A corner window provides glimpses of Portage Bay beyond.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Staircase From the compressed entry foyer, a generous stair leads one up to the primary living spaces.
Staircase Detail
The limited construction budget was focused on key spaces and experiences.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
East Elevation
3 1. Entry Foyer 2. Living Room 3. Master Bedroom 4. Mother-in-Law 5. Patio Beyond
Section A
2
1
4
5
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
1. Living 7. Powder Room 2. Dining 8. Patio Below 3. Kitchen 9. BBQ Below 4. Office 10. Driveway Below 5. Master Bathroom 11. Exterior Stair Below 6. Master Bedroom
Patio A concrete bbq enclosure continues the theme of site walls at the north patio, and provides privacy from the neighboring houses.
7 4
9
8
3
5
10
2
8
1 11
6 11
A
Upper Plan
Cantilever House B
C
D
E
F
Seattle, WA
Section B
Section D
Section C
Section E
Section F Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Patio The spatial experience of the house continues down a covered stair to a small exterior patio.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Kitchen The open kitchen continues the theme of a restrained material palette.
Bathroom Skylights wash the walls of the small master bath with natural light.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
East Elevation A steep slope and City-owned rockery along the east property line resulted in a 7’ cantilevered structure to minimize site disruption.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Living & Dining Rooms
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Entry Detail The cantilever reoccurs throughout the project as a design element.
Mother-in-Law Patio A cantilevered wall serves as a privacy screen for the upper floor, and frames the sky at the ground floor patio.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Site Plan
North Elevation
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Cantilever House The clients, both working professionals, lived in a small Seattle bungalow for fifteen years on a small site that overlooks Portage Bay and the University of Washington campus to the northeast. They loved the convenient location to the University and downtown Seattle, and the dynamic water views filled with rowing shells and sailboats. But the inefficient bungalow was cold in the winter and hot in the summer, had poor natural light, and suffered from significant water intrusion problems. The couple decided to construct a new house on the same property, one that would distill their urban lifestyle on an equally small footprint, yet that was specifically tailored to the qualities of the site. To assist in financing the project, they chose to devote a third of the available living area to a rentable motherin-law apartment. Early design discussions focused on a simple modern structure with a restrained material palette constructed on a very modest budget. The Owners desired a home that was open, light-filled and private but also transparent and oriented towards the water and city views. Above all, they desired a design which allowed for both the residence and mother-in-law apartment to capitalize on the sweeping views, while allowing for distinct privacy between both programs.
The resulting design places the primary residential living spaces on the upper floor of the structure, and the mother-in-law unit on the lower floor at the back of the site. The building turns its back to the street while opening up to the views to the northeast through a large glazed corner window system. The primary architectural strategy was to connect the exterior entry, primary interior living spaces, and exterior patio as a continuous spatial experience. A series of stepped concrete site walls leads you gradually up to a covered exterior entry, which opens onto a compressed entry foyer, which in turn leads to a double height space that welcomes you up a generous stair to the second floor living spaces. An exterior stair then connects you back down to a small patio at grade. A small concrete bbq structure provides privacy from the neighboring properties. The limited construction budget was focused on key spaces and experiences. The outcome is a project that is economical and site specific, while rich in spatial experience.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
South Elevation The primary architectural strategy was to connect the exterior entry, primary interior living spaces, and exterior patio as a continuous spatial experience.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
South Elevation Detail Custom stained rough-sawn cedar siding contrasts with the smooth concrete walls.
Entry Hall Careful attention was given to the placement and proportions of the concrete site walls.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Entry Steps The entry steps lead visitors gradually up to a cantilevered entry.
Entry Hall The outdoor covered entry leads into a peaceful foyer. A corner window provides glimpses of Portage Bay beyond.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Staircase From the compressed entry foyer, a generous stair leads one up to the primary living spaces.
Staircase Detail
The limited construction budget was focused on key spaces and experiences.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
East Elevation
3 1. Entry Foyer 2. Living Room 3. Master Bedroom 4. Mother-in-Law 5. Patio Beyond
Section A
2
1
4
5
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
1. Living 7. Powder Room 2. Dining 8. Patio Below 3. Kitchen 9. BBQ Below 4. Office 10. Driveway Below 5. Master Bathroom 11. Exterior Stair Below 6. Master Bedroom
Patio A concrete bbq enclosure continues the theme of site walls at the north patio, and provides privacy from the neighboring houses.
7 4
9
8
3
5
10
2
8
1 11
6 11
A
Upper Plan
Cantilever House B
C
D
E
F
Seattle, WA
Section B
Section D
Section C
Section E
Section F Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Patio The spatial experience of the house continues down a covered stair to a small exterior patio.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Kitchen The open kitchen continues the theme of a restrained material palette.
Bathroom Skylights wash the walls of the small master bath with natural light.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
East Elevation A steep slope and City-owned rockery along the east property line resulted in a 7’ cantilevered structure to minimize site disruption.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Living & Dining Rooms
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Entry Detail The cantilever reoccurs throughout the project as a design element.
Mother-in-Law Patio A cantilevered wall serves as a privacy screen for the upper floor, and frames the sky at the ground floor patio.
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
Site Plan
North Elevation
Cantilever House Seattle, WA
