Situated in Seattle’s Mt. Baker neighborhood, this project transformed a single-story house with a basement into a 5,000-square-foot, four-level residence while retaining its original footprint.

The basement was redesigned into a self-contained, 1,000-square-foot Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit (AADU). This unit includes two bedrooms and occupies the entire basement level, aside from a small mechanical and storage areas allocated to the main house.

The first level serves as the central living space, featuring an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area that takes full advantage of Lake Washington views. This floor also includes the main entry, a guest bedroom, a powder room, and a private office.

The second level is dedicated to private family living, comprising a spacious primary suite, two children’s bedrooms, a shared bathroom, a laundry room, and a flexible play area.

The top level, subtly integrated into the roofline, houses an expansive lounge with access to a large deck offering panoramic views of Lake Washington, making it ideal for relaxation or entertaining.

A double-height entryway connects the first and second levels visually, while an open riser staircase provides a seamless flow across the three main floors, emphasizing the vertical integration of the design.

The house was designed to incorporate a large south facing solar array, significantly greater than code required insulation, and an HRV system for constant filtered fresh air supply to the house.