Through smart space planning, these 20′ wide townhomes in South Seattle feel much larger than they are
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Designed for 30 foot-wide lots, these three homes take advantage of the surrounding site and views, while also incorporating a well designed floor plan. The three lots were purchased by a developer client of ours, however, another architect had already designed and permitted the project. There were many problems with the plans, and they didn’t have an appealing layout that would be easy to sell. We redesigned the homes and resubmitted the plans as a permit revision (which saved time and money for our client). The new design created a defined entry, and moved the stair to a more logical location. We incorporated a main level bedroom and bathroom, and added a walk-in pantry to the kitchen. We added a covered deck at the rear.
On the upper level, two kids bedrooms and a bathroom are located on the front half of the home, and a laundry room and master suite are located at the rear. In the middle is the stair and an open den, with skylight to flood the center of the house with natural light.
Project Info & Tips
- Consider opening up the center of a house and installing skylights to allow light into the core of a home
- Locating a bedroom and full or three-quarter bath on the main level can be a smart decision to allow an individual who is mobility impaired to live on one level. Consider installing the rough in plumbing for a laundry machine in a closet or pantry to allow for even more flexibility
- Privacy is important to consider especially where homes are located close together. By installing privacy glazing on the north side of each of these homes, it is impossible to see from one home to another, yet light still filter through. The windows were also staggered from side to side to avoid aligning windows with each other
- When the possibility permits, creating a vaulted ceiling or a lightwell with a skylight can break the monotony of a standard eight foot ceiling height
- The use of extra deep floor trusses allows plumbing and HVAC ducts to fit into the floor system without having any lowered ceilings
- Level of Design Services: Permit Set
- How do I Estimate Construction Cost and Design Fees?
