Article source: Robert Edson Swain Architecture + Design
Prospect and Refuge: A garden retreat that is hovering on the western slope of upper Queen Anne hill, and nested into the hillside. This retreat and gathering pavilion was imagined as a sculptural landscape element that could transform with the seasons and quickly change as the weather demands. Inspired by the impressive prospects of Elliott Bay, Magnolia and the Olympic Mountains to the west, the design delicately blends the pavilion into the client’s existing compound, protects the roots of a grand elm tree and respects neighbor’s views.
Nestled at the edge of a sub alpine meadow in the upper Methow Valley, the Ranchero is a base camp for year round outdoor adventure and a social h ub for gatherings of friends and family.
A small home in the residential neighborhood of Ballard in Seattle, WA was carefully dismantled by hand to save and salvage every piece of available material in order to create the Lark House. The existing home contained a full height basement that was inspected and reused as the foundation of the new home in order to take advantage of existing conditions and reuse the available earthwork and concrete already in place. The small footprint allowed for less of a typical living space so the design incorporated a covered patio off of the living room. Separated only by a folding window wall, this doubled the interior space when opened. Keeping the smaller existing footprint also allowed for more yard play space for the kids and garden space for the entire family. Floating above the concrete patio is the aluminum-clad form containing the main bedroom and bath. Skylights brighten the bathroom with natural light, while providing privacy from the neighboring homes. Connecting the living level with the bedrooms above is an open stairwell surrounded by glass. To avoid excessive sun exposure, the windows are clad with a cedar wall screen that allows filtered light and view in and out of the home. Concrete floors and durable materials are used throughout for the active family to enjoy their time together rather than working to constantly maintain the building. The rooftop deck replaces the displaced footprint of the home while garden planters utilize the rainwater.
The award winning design/build firm focused on building modern sustainable homes, is leading the charge for innovative architectural design and green building in Seattle with the completion of their net-zero “Reclaimed Modern” home. Nestled in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood, the Eco-friendly home proves the combination of modern design and pragmatic necessity is the future of development.
Located near the Burke Gilman bike trail, a linear park that connects Seattle’s neighborhoods (former Railroad Track), this house was designed for a Seattle couple who sought to live in a highly walkable and connected community.
Working closely with the Smithsonian, we conceived a master plan for the South Mall Campus as an example of radical reinterpretation. To resolve the contradictions between old and new, and to find freedom within the boundaries of strict regulation and historical preservation, we chose to carefully reinterpret the elements that are already present in the campus. The proposed master plan will be implemented over a 10-to-20–year period beginning in 2016.
Located within close proximity to Rock Creek Park, and with easy access to the shops and restaurants on Connecticut Avenue, this large lot in Northwest Washington, DC presented a desirable opportunity for a young family to build a new house in this sought-after neighborhood.
Individual villas have played a particular role in the history of domesticity. They are inevitably the set for the rich and dramatic play of family life whether in fiction or reality. In that sense all villas belong to a very same lineage : a stage for the domestic drama: love, passion, adultery, brotherhood ; the ups and down of family and love stories. Regardless of whether the scenario comes with a happy ending or not, similarities appear in all domestic environments.
Raisbeck Aviation High School was conceived as a response to Highline School District’s proximity to the aviation industry, a deep desire to give students access to college and engineering professions, and an educational vision that melds hands-on, project-based learning with academic rigor. The new 400-student STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) school enables students to flourish through co-location with the Museum of Flight and immersion in aerospace and aviation. The design supports this program physically, visually, and symbolically with project labs for aircraft and robotics construction, state-of-the-art science labs, classrooms, and a multi-purpose gathering space. Even the image of the school reflects its mission with its streamlined, carefully crafted form, inspired by the leading edge of a wing.
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