Lake Union Floating Home

Given a limited footprint and the desire to maximize both interior living and outdoor entertaining spaces, this plan flips the typical residential model by locating public spaces on the upper level and private spaces on the entry level. The massing of the house is an exercise in carving; the challenge was to meet the clients’ needs for space yet develop an envelope that is visually interesting and coherent. Various decks are recessed into the volume and changes in materials and surfaces provide accents that speak to differentiated interior uses. A translucent stair tower “knits” the two floors together and becomes a central visual element. Additional information may be found at Arch Daily.