HOOM

HOOM started years before it began with architectural research in the Netherlands and working for a Dutch architect who designed my favorite library. Amsterdam’s Steigereiland is home to beautiful and uniquely designed rowhouse communities and we hoped to create one here in the NW someday. To kickoff this project when the site was found by the owner, we visited and studied these communities in-person to bring some new inspiration and ideas back home to Seattle for these buildings.

We designed these 2 buildings and 8 townhouse units to interlock together and occupy the base of a heavily wooded and 40% steep slope site by Seattle’s Beacon Hill. Interlocking and jogging their partition walls allowed for the units to be much larger on one side than the other for light, living spaces, and views. An ECA variance to develop at the toe of the slope was granted by the city to minimally disturb the site and concurrently revegetate the hillside. Parking is required for the site, so a secure parking garage is located beneath the the upper units and shared resident decks.

Each residence was created uniquely and they express different materials, fenestration, and colors according to the unit, site, views, composition, privacy, and layout. These buildings were also able to use more affordable building materials while still allowing for strong expressions of brick, steel, concrete, wood, and metal at key areas. Residents have also taken the next step for these individual unit expressions with their unique vibrant gardens and outdoor space items. For many of them, this has become a community for both working remotely and living as these spaces continue to evolve. To see this architectural dream come to life start to finish has been a real adventure and we are very happy to have been a part of that process w/ a great team from conception to completion.

Location: North Beacon Hill, Seattle

Architect: Lemons Architecture & Urban Growth

Structural Engineer: Malsam Tsang Structural Engineering

Civil and Shoring Engineer: Davido Consulting Group

Landscape Architect: Root of Design

Geotechnical Engineer: Pangeo Inc

Client: Private Owner & Builder