In Seattle, a Modern Home That Looks Toward the Sky and the Water
I’ve spent a fair amount of time in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. over the last 30 years, and I remember two things about its architectural style. The first is that the prevailing style there was modern. The second is that it had the most beautiful houses. The reason was because the houses in the Pacific Northwest tended to be very narrow and high, as though the owners were trying to maximize outdoor living.
What’s interesting is that this style of architecture, with its emphasis on “maximum living space,” still endures. The narrow, high houses of the Pacific Northwest still stand and in fact get bigger. To me, the most amazing design feature of this style is a lot of them are built on or near water.
I’ve spent a fair amount of time in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. over the last 30 years, and I remember two things about its architectural style. The first is that the prevailing style there was modern. The second is that it had the most beautiful houses. The reason was because the houses in the Pacific Northwest tended to be very narrow and high, as though the owners were trying to maximize outdoor living.
What’s interesting is that this style of architecture, with its emphasis on “maximum living space,” still endures. The narrow, high houses of the Pacific Northwest still stand and in fact get bigger. To me, the most amazing design feature of this style is a lot of them are built on or near water.
One of the most beautiful houses I know of is a home on Kachemak Bay in Seattle. It is a three-acre, three-story, multi-unit residence built on a cliff, that rises more than 300 feet above the water. The structure is covered with terra cotta roof tiles, which shade the interior from the sun. The inside of the house is built in a contemporary manner with large windows and a lot of light. But the most striking part of the design is the view. The view is amazing from one of the highest locations in the city.