Tucked between the Burke-Gilman trail and Lake Washington, we designed a custom, modern home on a rare double lot on Seattle’s lakefront.

The design sites the home in approximately the same location as the existing structure, minimizing the building footprint and preserving the south-facing yard. An existing detached garage was rebuilt and designed to accommodate a green roof. The low slope roof of the house opens up toward the south. Careful placement of windows and doors frame panoramic views of the lake while providing privacy from adjacent neighbors and the trail.

A series of covered decks extend outdoor living during the wet and gray months. On the east portion of the lot, an existing lawn was preserved while an elevated south lawn provides a more intimate gathering space around an outdoor fire pit. A series of landscaped steps helps ease the transition between the two outdoor zones.

We love how the house turned out, but the process wasn’t without its fair share of challenges. This site was subject to not only shoreline requirements, but also environmentally critical area designations, existing non-conforming structure challenges, land use constraints and a geotechnical soils analysis.