By Robyn Griggs Lawrence
Seattle’s historic Magnolia neighborhood spans across a peninsula south of the Ballard Locks, presenting views of the Cascade Mountains and the busy shipping canal linking Lake Union to Puget Sound. Architect David Vandervort has lived atop a hill in this community for 22 years, and he’s watched with some apprehension as massive homes have been built on lots where much smaller houses once stood, changing the neighborhood’s character and scale. So when the generic post-war home next door became available, Vandervort grasped the opportunity. He could showcase his firm’s dedication to solid, sustainable design while preserving his neighborhood’s character and integrity.
"I wanted to do something in my neighborhood that was different from some of the spec houses going up here, which are less than high quality," Vandervort says. "I wanted to create a site-sensitive, modern house. And at the same time, I could make sure that the house wouldn’t overwhelm my own yard or block our sunlight and views."
The house, which had been occupied since it was built in 1952, was solidly constructed but hardly a complement for its fabulous site, a south-facing corner lot overlooking the canal and the Ballard Bridge. "I wanted to build a house that appreciated the land and reached out to the views and the light—without overwhelming the community," Vandervort says. A fan of the Northwest’s distinctive mid-century modern architecture, he embarked on a home design that would honor "the historical architecture of the place."
Pushing the Limits
Collaborating with Paulsen Construction, Vandervort removed much of the original home down to its concrete foundation and main floor joists, letting a few of the original walls stand and recycling much of the wood into new construction. He added a wing with a living room and family room, a master bedroom suite, and a stair tower that welcomes light and helps to ventilate the home. The tower also relates to the notion of lighthouses and tugboats, an ode to the active canal below. In the living room and the master bedroom, high clerestory windows bring the low, flat Seattle light deep into the house while protecting privacy. Terraces, decks and patios provide outdoor living space for relaxing or entertaining.
"I wanted to play out the whole sophisticated modernist statement in its extremes," says Vandervort, who also pushed the limits on sustainable materials—which is especially risky when building a speculative house (even in progressive Seattle). "Without going over the top, we tried to use certified green materials whenever they were available."
Vandervort included an assortment of green features infrequently found in spec homes, basically because they can inflate construction costs and the builder isn’t likely to reap the long-term benefits. To save energy, two "eco-roofs" were planted with climate-appropriate landscaping. Radiant floor heat and a highly-efficient condensing boiler helps to lower utility bills, while a $7,000 photovoltaic system generates 15 to 20 percent of the home’s electricity needs. "I wanted to include the solar system as a demonstration of what can be done, even here in our overcast, cloudy Northwest," Vandervort says. "The solar panels are a testimony to the possibilities of generating one’s own power and show how one can even net meter excess electricity back to the grid."
A Family Who Gets It
Going green increased construction costs by about 20 percent, Vandervort says, and his biggest frustration was that Seattle’s normally environmentally conscious community didn’t seem to fully appreciate his efforts. Finding a buyer for the house took time.
Vandervort encountered problems with real estate perceptions because of the home’s size: 2,700 square feet in a market and price range where 3,500 square feet is standard. "It struggled to find its niche," he says. "It took awhile for people to really get it."
Charmaine and Richard Angino and their 6-year-old son, Michael, were the buyers who lucked out. Transplants from Florida, the Anginos had lived in one of Los Angeles’ experimental "Case Study" houses and were already supporters of modernist homes. They purchased the house largely because they fell in love with its design. "We love all the glass," says Richard, who develops affordable housing projects for a large developer. "We love the light and all the details. Nobody builds a spec house like this—with this kind of quality."
They really appreciate the not-so-big aspect of the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home. "When we told several real estate agents our price range, they kept showing us all these huge, 4,000-square-foot houses," Richard says. "This is the perfect size for us."
Charmaine quickly adds that the home’s sustainable features also were attractive for their family. "All the nontoxic paints and finishes really appealed to us," she says.
For his part, Vandervort takes pleasure in watching his new neighbors make their mark on his creation. "I always knew someone would come along and want to change things and make it theirs," he says. "It’s like having a child—you take it so far and then you turn it over."
Provided by Natural Home - http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com
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