'Modern aesthetic' rises in Central Area
The house: Built on what was one of the rare vacant lots in Seattle's Central Area, the house is a three-story "modern aesthetic," to quote its architect.
The main floor is one story up, which offers the living and dining rooms privacy and great light. Open spaces, big windows and exposed steel-and-wood beams give it the edgy feel of an urban loft. The top floor offers two bedrooms, a laundry room, plus a spacious master suite with a den. There's also a private rooftop deck with a view of Mount Rainier.
The architect: Mark Travers. He organized the floor plan around a two-story entry and describes the program as simple. "Large open clean spaces were a priority. High ceilings and an abundance of daylight were also priorities."
The owners: Bob Chow and Shirley Low. "We wanted something modern, but we never dreamed we'd be able to build a house," she says. But she aggressively shopped online and thus was able to fulfill her wish list, which included a black granite and stainless-steel kitchen, bamboo and concrete floors, plus European and Japanese plumbing fixtures.
The contractor: Barlow Construction.
Judges' comments: "The overall design and openness was very successful. The entry was eye-catching and drew the eye up to the upper floor. There was an interesting mix of materials throughout the entire house."
The size: 3,142 square feet, three bedrooms, 2½ baths, plus a one-bedroom guest suite at ground level.
Project cost: $430,000. (Includes all labor, materials, building permit fees, sales tax and architect, contractor and/or consultant fees. Excludes land cost.)
Tour hours: 1-5 p.m. today (Sunday) only.
Floor plans: Shown at right.
Address: 2328 E. Pike St., Seattle.
Driving directions: From downtown Seattle take Madison Street going east. Veer to the right onto East Union Street. Turn left on 23rd Avenue East, and right again onto East Pike.
The Seattle Times/AIA Open House program began in 1954. All licensed architects are encouraged to submit their residential work for consideration. Nominees are reviewed by the Seattle Chapter, AIA Open House committee. Call 206-448-4938.