Posts in Architecture
New Missing-Middle Housing - Hawthorne Hills Three

Hawthorne Hills Three:
Single-family residence, ADU & DADU

This project renovates an existing home and adds an attached accessory dwelling unit (AADU), and a detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) to thoughtfully develop this single-family home into three rental units in the desirable Hawthorne Hills neighborhood of Seattle. It brings forward a model of urban density, providing much needed ‘missing middle’ housing. The exterior of the two buildings is unified in onyx-grey fiber cement siding with cedar accent areas. The home is 4-Star BuiltGreen certified.

The main home, with three bedrooms at 1,150SF, is renovated for modern living. The kitchen features three skylights that maximize natural light and brighten the core of the home. The original warm oak floors were refinished and unify the spaces.

The 410SF AADU takes advantage of the original house’s slightly set back position on the lot to build a new unit to the front and side setback.  The entry opens to the bright kitchen and living space. Within the compact footprint, a hallway through the utility room leads to the bathroom and a separate bedroom.

The backyard cottage is a 1000SF two-story home. Situated on the lot for privacy, a private walkway leads to the front door. The DADU boasts three bedrooms with vaulted ceilings on the top floor. Downstairs, a generous great room and kitchen with expansive glass doors open to the patio and private backyard. The efficient, open plan and bonus storage add to the versatility of the home.

See more here.

TEAM
Builder: Cadre  General Contractors
Civil: Davido Consulting Group/Watershed
Survey: Terrane
Structural Engineer: Owen Gould
GeoTechnical: Cobalt GeoSciences
Andersen Windows & Doors

Photography: Peter Bohler

The Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe's new Hatchery & Beach Shelter

New tribal Hatchery & Beach Shelter

At the beach at Point Julia on land occupied by the tribe since time immemorial, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s Hatchery and Beach Shelter combines pragmatic uses with symbolic content. Salmon fishing is central to the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s traditional identity and its contemporary outlook. The new 1,800 SF two-story building accommodates both office and utility space for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s salmon hatchery program, along with a separate open-air structure used by the Tribe’s commercial fishing operations. This project recognizes the cultural importance of both the place—a focal point of their history—and the program, while providing solutions to allow these activities to flourish in the 21st century.

The lower level of the Hatchery houses a garage, maintenance shop, and egg-incubation room with equipment that is both durable and moveable. The upper floor contains offices, water-quality testing, and filtration equipment. The conference room on the southwest corner can be entered separately, accessible to the wider community.

The new hatchery forms a gateway to the beach from the landward side, and the beach shelter is the Tribe’s front door on the sea. It will provide a work area for fishermen who pull their boats onto the beach and will also provide recreation space for the community. On the beach between the two structures, the native landscape is being restored, along with traditional edible and medicinal plants, and salt-tolerant erosion control plantings.

hatchery, exterior, PNW design

See more here.

TEAM
Owner: Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
Architecture: CAST architecture
Photography: Lara Swimmer
Contractor:  Pacific Civil & Infrastructure
Geo-tech: Robinson Noble
Structural: Swenson Say Faget
MEP: Glumac
Civil: Cannon
Landscape Architect: Pacific Landscape Architecture
Windows: Jeld-Wen  
Archeologist: Willamette Cultural Resources
Survey: AES Consultants
Intake System Engineer: Kleinschmidt Group
Specifications: Applied Building Information
Art/light installation: S’Klallam artist Jimmy Price
Conference table / Entry bench: Craig Kohring

Washington HB 1337 and HB 1110 pass both houses

Statewide efforts to boost housing options make headway

This past legislative session, several bills made it through both houses and each will have long term benefits for the production of urban infill housing types such as cottages, ADUs, and small stacked apartment buildings.

HB 1337

The passing of HB 1337 expands housing options by easing barriers to the construction and use of ADUs.

·        legalizes two ADUs per lot in any configuration of attached/detached

·        legalizes an ADU on any lot size that’s legal for a house

·        legalizes ADU size up to at least 1,000 SF 

·        legalizes ADU height up to 24 feet

·        ends requirement for owner to live on site

·        caps impact fees at 50% of those charged on houses

·        lifts parking mandates within 1/2-mile or 15 minutes from transit stop

·        prohibits design standards or other restrictions more stringent than what applies to the main house 

·        legalizes ADUs to abutting property lines on alleys

·        legalizes ADUs in existing structures that violate current rules for setbacks or lot coverage

·        prohibits requirements for public right of way improvements

·        legalizes the sale of ADUs as condominiums

HB 1110

The Middle Housing Bill will mandate that medium and large cities create development standards for their lowest density zones to accommodate more housing.  For Seattle, it means:

·        Up to 4 units on any parcel not previously limited by an HOA or PUD.

·        Up to 6 units on parcels that are within ½ mile (a 10 minute walk) of frequent or fixed transit

·        Up to 6 units on any parcel if 2 are designated as affordable. 

The form that these new housing types will be open ended, but the Department of Commerce is busy developing a model code for cities to use as a starting point.  The deadline for cities to comply is 6 months after their next comprehensive plan cycle (for Seattle that is mid 2025). 

As one of the region's leading voices for abundant and affordable housing choices, we have been advocating for backyard cottages—accessory dwelling units (ADUs)—since Seattle first considered them citywide in 2009.

More efficient land use is critical to address our housing crisis, climate change, and persistent inequities in access to housing opportunities. Modest infill houses like ADUs are a key strategy to empower citizens to provide new housing, build generational wealth, and leverage taxpayers’ investment in infrastructure, transit, schools, and parks. 

Mazama Public House Featured in Methow Homes magazine

A “People Place” by Design
The Mazama Public House was conceived with community in mind.

“The long communal tables were always indicative of the way we were thinking about the place. You come in and you’re part of the community. You share a table and suddenly you’re in conversation with a person you’ve never met before. It’s a fun opportunity.”
-- Stefan Hampden, CAST architecture

See the full article here on Issue.

This pub is the new gathering spot for the community of Mazama, at the north end of Washington’s Methow Valley.  The 1,868 square foot public house is designed to seat 56 and another 50 outside with built-in benches on the four-season covered patio. In warm weather, a garage door system opens for a seamless connection to the outdoor decks. The height of the shed roof and the expansive windows on two sides are sited to take advantage of natural light and views toward Goat Peak. The interior features wood beams punctuated by blackened steel and concrete floors. Custom tables and bar slabs were crafted from locally sourced Douglas-fir. Outside, blackened steel will accent the wood structure. The siding is a dark-stained, rough-sawn vertical channel shiplap.

Green design features the use of highly durable siding materials including a mix of locally harvested wood from the Methow Valley and Boise Cascade products. The generous overhangs were designed to protect the siding from wear and tear. Full LED lighting was installed.

📸@benjdrummond
📸@mitchellimage

@mazamapub
Architect: CAST architecture
Owner: Grumpy Goats, LLC
Operator: Old Schoolhouse Brewery @oldschoolhousebrewery
Contractor: Bjornsen Construction, Tom Bjornsen                                    
Structural: Harriott Valentine Engineers @harriottvalentine
Lighting: LightWire @ltwire
Windows & doors: @sierrapacificwindows  

Edelweiss House

Edelweiss House in the Methow Valley

This home, on two acres, near Mazama in the Methow Valley, was sited to take maximum advantage of a south-facing orientation. Its horseshoe shape creates a courtyard between the wings of the home which is cooler in the summer and cozy with a fire pit in the winter. The home’s design highlights the indoor/outdoor relationship that characterizes Methow Valley life.

The twelve-foot-high bank of windows and NanaWall in the great room face southwest and provide transparency through the home, while framing valley and mountain views. The interior wood ceiling extends out through the overhang above the veranda, further drawing the eye out and bringing in the outdoors. The roof height was intentional, to protect from the summer heat, and allow winter sun in to warm up the space.

A centerline from the kitchen to the fireplace wall is a nod to formality. The chandelier anchors the space from either side patios and the kitchen/living room axis. The open kitchen, clad in local Douglas fir, was designed for those social interactions that happen best around food.

The primary bedroom wing includes one bedroom, bathroom, walk-in closet with laundry room and doggie bed, and connection to the outdoor dog run. Obscure glass and a built-in Douglas fir headboard create the shared wall with the bathroom, bringing in extra light to the spaces.

On the opposite side, the utility wing starts just off the kitchen with a pantry and food prep area. A multipurpose room includes space for a guest bedroom with Murphy bed and built-in cabinetry, an office, and a game area. The area can be separated by a pocketed curtain.

Riverside Winthrop Mixed-use
rendering, exterior

The Methow Valley’s Riverside Winthrop Mixed-use project – On the Boards

“This is an amazing gift to the community. I hope everyone will look for ways to make sure it happens.”     
 
-- public meeting attendee

This mixed-use project, at the east side of Winthrop in Washington’s Methow Valley, is positioned to become the upvalley entrance to “old downtown.” The site is a challenging set of narrow parcels overlooking the confluence of the Methow and Chewuch Rivers. The private development is driven by long-time Winthrop residents Peter Goldman and Martha Konsgaard and prioritizes doing right by the community on several fronts.  

Given the housing crisis affecting the area, CAST is working with the town on zoning changes to allow for long-term residential rentals, and to integrate workforce housing into the project's program. At both a pedestrian as well as a vehicular gateway to the city, we are linking the town’s boardwalk to the Susie Stephens trail and the town's civic center on the south side of the river. We are working with the community to create an entry point to a public riverwalk trail system. Additionally, the project is envisioned as a template for how buildings can work within Winthrop's westernization code while striving for very high levels of sustainability and designing to passive house standards for the residential and office suites. 

Riverside’s program will provide one 1-bedroom and two 2-bedroom residential units overlooking the river, with approximately 2,600 SF of pedestrian-level retail space which spills out into a public courtyard strengthening views and access to the river from town. The second floor incorporates 2,650 SF of office space, continuing the client’s tradition of renting below market rate to community non-profit businesses.

Team
Client: Peter Goldman and Martha Kongsgaard
Architect: CAST architecture
Builder: North Star Construction Company  www.Northstarbuilds.Com
Civil & Structural: DCG   www.dcgengr.com   
Electrical: TFWB   tf-wb.com
Environmental:  Grette  www.gretteassociates.com  
Geotech: Geoengineers  www.geoengineers.com/ 
Mechanical: Ecotope   www.ecotope.com 
Survey: Tackman   www.tackmansurveying.com

S N O W C O U N T R Y

The straightforward roof design of this home is designed for its rugged environment in Washington’s Methow Valley. 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 walkways and entries help keep outdoor circulation free of ice, reduce shoveling, and simplify living.

Roof Design in snow country

Plan a simple, generous roof that will hold snow and cover outdoor walkways, entries, and deck areas.

-  A blanket of snow on the roof provides a free, insulating, energy-saving bonus.

-  A roof that holds snow reduces the chance of avalanche, creep, or slough off and minimizes chance of injury or damage to the structure.

-  Plan for the roof to cover four-season outdoor living areas.

-  Keep the roof simple—avoid complex shapes, valleys, and roof-to-wall intersections.

-  Avoid gutters as meltwater can create ice dams at eaves and accumulate in gutters resulting in maintenance issues.

-  Avoid skylights, and roof penetrations when possible. Roof vents, chimneys. and plumbing vents should account for snowpack.

Photos: Built Work Photography

ON THE BOARDS – CAST designs Multi-family housing in Eastlake

Seattle Architect pursues passive house certification with missing-middle housing on Lake Union

Echo on Eastlake apartments is pursuing Passive House certification, with early design and feasibility studies complete on the new 10-unit apartment building in Seattle’s Lake Union neighborhood.

This building will replace an existing single-family structure in this residential urban village, adding missing-middle housing. It utilizes the stacked flats concept which pushes the bounds of the single-family envelope but maintains an urbanism-friendly street frontage. There is one central stair and no shared walls. And, the two homes on the ground floor are both fully accessible.

Six-to-twelve-plexes offer a superior urban experience, more housing units, more housing variety, and at least some fully accessible housing units. They also may preserve more tree canopy, increase open space, and optimize daylight compared to townhomes.

More to come in the months ahead.

TEAM
Developer: West Crescent Advisors, LLC
Owner’s Representative: Woodworth Construction Management LLC @woodworth_built
Architect: CAST architecture
Builder: Carrig Construction
Civil Engineer: Davido Consulting Group
Landscape Architect: Karen Keist Landscape Architects
Arborist:  Moss Studio
Geotechnical Engineer: Pangeo, Inc.
Surveyor: Terrane
Structural Engineer: Harriott Valentine Engineers
Envelope Consultant: B.E.E Consulting

CAST is Hiring - join our team

Seattle architect hiring

Current Opportunities:
Design Associate with 2+ years of experience
AND
Project Architect/Manager with 5+ years of experience

CAST Architecture is a Seattle-based firm with extensive experience designing contemporary spaces throughout the Northwest. Specializing in modern and sustainable projects, the firm is committed to improving the lives of individuals, families, and the community through vibrant and thoughtful design. We are inspired by collaboration, intend on crafting timeless, high-performance buildings, and are committed to positive social outcomes.

Our studio environment is friendly and low-key. We enjoy working collaboratively and actively foster a team approach in all of our endeavors. We pride ourselves in promoting a healthy work/life balance and passions and interests outside the office. While we’d love to have everyone in the office working together, we support flexible remote-work scheduling.  

DESIGN ASSOCIATE

Job Description
The candidate will work under the leadership of a licensed architect/project manager and will assist with all aspects of the design and production of residential, commercial, and public architectural works. Additional duties will include general administrative tasks and assisting with the production of marketing materials as needed.

Experience with documentation and delivery is a big plus. We’re always working on several tenant improvements, early learning centers, and custom residential work that require collaboration, creativity, and attention to detail.

Qualifications

• First and foremost you are an exceptional designer who excels working in a collaborative and creative environment

• A ‘can do’ work attitude on all tasks from the mundane to the extraordinary

• Solid verbal, written, and graphic communication skills

• A well-rounded understanding of the technical aspects of architectural design including materials use, construction techniques, and construction details

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in architecture or interior design from an accredited university is required

Technical skills

• Proficient with architectural BIM software, preferably ArchiCAD (Note – we do not use Revit/AutoCAD). We will train if you don’t have ArchiCAD experience but are ready to learn.

• Familiar with Affinity/Adobe design products, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Office.

• Capable of producing high-quality renderings with Lumion is a plus but not required.

Benefits

  • Flexible schedule, remote work

  • Competitive compensation

  • 401K+3% employer match

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance

  • Overtime pay

  • Annual bonus

  • Support for professional development and certifications

Submit a cover letter, resume, and samples of design work digitally to employment@castarchitecture.com. We will review and contact applicants on a rolling basis in January.


PROJECT ARCHITECT/MANAGER

Job Description
The immediate need is to work on a range of housing projects, including affordable multifamily, market-rate infill, custom houses, and institutional projects.  Our projects are staffed with small fluid teams, usually with a principal, project architect and one or more design associates. After a collaborative schematic design, the project architect leads design development, consultant coordination, construction documents, permitting, and construction administration, while managing additional staff as necessary to complete the project.

Qualifications

  • First and foremost you are an exceptional designer who excels working in a collaborative and creative environment

  • A ‘can do’ cooperative attitude

  • Highly organized project management

  • Solid verbal, written, and graphic communication skills

  • A well-rounded understanding of the technical aspects of materials, methods, energy use, and construction details

  • 5+ years experience

  • A Bachelor's or Master's degree in architecture from an accredited university is required

Technical skills

  • Proficient with architectural drafting software, preferably ArchiCAD (Note – we do not use AutoCAD).  We will train if you don’t have ArchiCAD experience but are ready to learn. 

  • Proficient with Bluebeam, and Microsoft Office suite. 

  • Capable of producing high-quality renderings with Lumion would be a huge plus but not required

  • Certification in Passive House or LEED, energy modeling, and experience with sustainable construction systems and methods.

Benefits

  • Flexible schedule, remote work

  • Competitive compensation

  • 401K+3% employer match

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance

  • Overtime pay

  • Annual bonus

  • Support for professional development and certifications

Submit a cover letter, resume, and samples of design work digitally to employment@castarchitecture.com. We will review and contact applicants on a rolling basis in January.

No phone calls or hand-delivered applications, please.

Making “Plexible” Projects Possible
Jansen Court, missing middle housing, Seattle Housing

Courtney W. Banker’s report Making “Plexible” Projects Possible includes research and examples from Seattle architect Matt Hutchins

Missing Middle Housing — Why Stacked Flats?

Stacked Flats push the bounds of the single-family envelope but maintain an urbanism-friendly street frontage. 6-/12-plexes offer a superior urban experience, more housing units, more housing variety, and at least some fully accessible housing units. In Matt Hutchins’s design approach, 6-/12-plexes also preserve more tree canopy, increase open space, and optimize daylight compared to townhomes.

Stacked flats can feature one or even four fully accessible units on the ground floor—without the need for an elevator (a significant cost too burdensome for most small-scale projects). They are a powerful incremental development strategy that can be replicated to result in substantial change, helping neighborhoods grow with more sustainable land uses, urban-supportive density, and accessible housing units.

This report builds on prior efforts to promote missing middle housing in Austin, Texas, leverages interviews with 23 local and national experts, and employs financial modeling of for-rent projects to identify the key barriers facing stacked flats.

The report is at the University of Texas Scholar Works: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/115590

@Courtney Banker
@Matt Hutchins AIA CPHD