this mercer island custom home brings in the outdoors

With neighbors close by, this home on Mercer Island is organized into two solid masses flanking a glass box that acts as the gathering area. An open staircase ties the levels together and a bridge links bedrooms upstairs and allows for a vantage point to the living room below and the backyard tree canopy. With glass doors and large stacked windows, the main gathering area is linked to the outdoor patio and beyond to the forested green space. The exterior materials are accentuated by wrapping into interior spaces. The dining room, kitchen, and large walk-in pantry offer intimate spaces, with a strong connection to the two-story living space. The pantry, with plentiful storage, can be closed off from the open kitchen and casual eating area.

See more in the Homes section of our website.

Photos by: Andrew Giammarco

A modern Tudor-style cottage built to fit the neighborhood and add density to Montlake

DADUs help seattle’s density

This well-crafted modern Tudor-style cottage in Seattle’s treasured Montlake neighborhood brings forward a model of urban density, while providing a private home. A gracious entry brings you to the great room with vaulted ceilings, dark-wood beams, and loads of natural light from all four sides of the home. The kitchen is designed with abundant easy-to-use storage and generous counter space. The dining area’s large glass doors open to a patio facing inward to the property’s shared courtyard that connects the private homes and provides opportunities to gather. A lot of home fits into the 1,225 square feet with three bedrooms, two baths, flexible utility space, and creative storage. Two entrances make access to both levels of the home straightforward.

See Built Green’s case study on their website: CAST architecture Modern Tudor DADU It highlights energy efficiency, low-impact development, rainwater catchment, indoor air quality, moisture protection, and materials with reduced environmental impact throughout the home and property.

See more: Blaine Cottage

Photos by: Andrew Giammarco

Seattle’s urban infill

CAST is closely associated with efforts to moderate density infill within existing neighborhoods in Seattle. Working with two families in parallel, we designed a duo of townhomes near Lake Union. Considerable attention was given to how the facades were grouped, and the way color and pattern emphasized vertical proportions while keeping surfaces in scale. We stitched together spaces between five floors while accommodating the structure needed for multi-level cantilevers over the parking areas. Thoughtful window openings bring lots of natural light and privacy within this tight city lot.

Icicle Creek Retreat, Wenatchee Forest Washington

Design for snow country

The straight-forward roof of Icicle Creek Cabin is made for its environment. We kept it simple and avoided complex shapes—a roof that holds snow reduces the chance of slough off and provides an energy-saving bonus. Deep eaves and generous covered entries and walkways help keep outdoor circulation free of ice, reduce shoveling, and simplify living.

See more: Icicle Creek Cabin

Contractor: Warm Homes Construction, Aviathar Pemberton
Roofing: OJ Industries Roofing

siting the berm house in washington’s Methow valley

Bermed into a meadow, the Berm House has a low profile and opens to the valley panorama of mountains and agricultural fields. The south-facing building orientation optimizes passive heating, and the large overhang protects from snowfall and intense summer sun. The home is post and beam structure with a cross-laminated timber (CLT) roof, prefabricated in northeastern Washington. Thermal bridges are minimized by wrapping the house in continuous external insulation, including under the foundation, isolating the home from outdoor temperature swings. The bermed roof, with 12-inches of soil, adds thermal mass and protection from weather exposure.

Seattle home renovation

Many Seattleites fall in love with their walkable neighborhoods with tall trees and connection to water, trails, and views. They choose to renovate instead of moving when their family outgrows the home. Originally built in 1963, the full remodel of this split-level house brings an improved layout, more daylight, and updates for modern living.

As a welcoming feature, five-inch wide mahogany siding wraps from the exterior through to the entry. The warm, updated entrance also features floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the adjacent spaces with natural light. While the open staircase brings light into the basement it also emulates the alternating rise from the concrete stairs outside. Accent cove lights wash the ceiling and walls with light in the living and dining spaces.

Green design elements include a roof-top solar array, rainwater collection for irrigation, and pervious paving. The paving system includes a break in the pavement to allow for better drainage to reduce the amount of rain running down the rest of the driveway.

See more: Wedgewood Renovation

seattle neighborhood residential

Green Zoning means going beyond detached houses and townhouses, to a more urban, green residential type. Let’s trade the sideyard for a backyard with more homes facing the street with a useable yard. The typical setbacks on narrow, deep lots force townhomes to be perpendicular to the street and facing useless sideyards.

• Reduce front yard setback and eliminate side setback

• Porches and balconies can extend in front

• Max. depth 50% of the lot, apartments with window on street and larger backyard

• A compact form is easy to build and energy efficient

• Space for 3-10 households per parcel

• Works for larger units - less floor area wasted on stairwells

• Backyard trees remain

If we want to crack the housing crisis, ADUs aren’t enough. We need a repeatable adaptable accessible single-stair, #Passivhaus 6/8/10plex that can be financed, permitted, constructed nearly everywhere on a margin that makes it more profitable than townhomes or detached homes.