Foundations

Very little is slated to remain of the original home. The existing foundations and stem walls will support an entirely new steel frame structure above. New concrete walls will be poured within the original foundation to create a home theater and workshop- entirely underground.

Opening Up

As with the vernacular of many older homes in the United States, this house suffered from a rigid separation of spaces. In contrast the new design is open to maximize overlap of activities. Extensive fenestration along the front facade brings natural illumination into every corner of the home.

In his writings on the practice of landscape architecture, Andrew Jackson Downing argued that the front porch, once a mainstay in American architecture, was the way a home connected to the street. As it was a hybrid of public-private space, Downing poised the front porch as the ideal transitional space between interior and exterior. As time have changed the once ambiguous front porch, a hub of community connectivity was muted before the demands of automobile-centric suburbia. With this rebuild LEV took the opportunity to reconnect the home with the street and the community. Situated atop the car port, the new “front porch” blurs the distinction between inside and out while maintaining the connection with the neighborhood.

Spatial Balance

Spaces throughout the home are designed for maximum versatility. Catering to the contemporary lifestyle, the home provides spaces the flexibility to adapt to the individual requirements of each family member. The entire first floor can transform into the perfect space for every situation. This lack of delineation allows for personalization and change.

While privacy for the sleeping rooms is achieved vertically, the basement offers an isolated home theater and work space.

A roof deck takes advantage of the topography and building height to provide westward views of Lake Washington.