Queen Anne House

For a young tech couple captivated by the vibrant cultural scene and elegant architecture of Queen Anne, Seattle, we were commissioned to design their first dream home. Upon our initial site visit, we discovered an enchanting urban street and an ancient Japanese maple tree in the rear yard, a symbol of the city's rich horticultural history stemming from Japanese migration. Despite city regulations, we committed to preserving this backyard tree while fulfilling the clients' living needs. By maximizing the lot's potential with a two-story above-grade and one-story sub-basement design, we compromised a small portion of the footprint to conserve the maple tree. This required a seamless integration of architectural space and furniture. Our design approach included using foyer cabinetry as space divider, incorporating storage and bookshelves into the stairs, and meticulously designing custom made furniture and cabinetry and activity spaces with precisely positioned windows. These windows establish a dynamic interplay with the interior spaces, achieving a harmonious and functional living environment. The deck, though small, is extended as close as possible to be below the Maple tree by using a cantilevering technique for the structure. This enables a functional deck without encroaching into any of the critical root zone. The deck also has enough space for a spiral staircase to reach the rooftop.