Prospect House, designed by Lane Williams Architects with interiors designed in collaboration with Swivel Interiors, is located in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood and frames dramatic views of the Seattle skyline and Space Needle.
The steeply-sloped site created a challenging design and build project. The clients asked for views to be maximized on every floor while also creating a year-round living opportunity. Although the architecture, interior finishes and furnishings were both inspired and shaped by the desire to allow the panoramic City and Sound vista hold center court, the confident design lines of the home and thoughtful material selections never take a back seat.
From street view the house reads like a large white modern box that clings onto the hillside, a nod to the complexity of the demanding build. Internally it is an engaging and layered experience of integrated materials, design lines, furnishings and art. Confident details - including slat wood ceilings, a large marble and wood box island, dark floors, bright art - compliment the home's panoramic views, especially in the evenings.
The clients wanted to maximize the indoor/outdoor features and were willing to sacrifice indoor space to maximize outdoor living opportunities. A reverse floor plan for the sleeping rooms (located on the lower second and third floors) allowed the creation of an open floor plan (kitchen, dining, living and deck and balcony) on the entire top level.
The design of the exterior minimizes the impact of a double-width garage door through the creation of an elevated entry bridge along with an extended roof over the entry, collectively working as a focal point. The garage door is also blended with windows on the floor above.
Entering through a ten-foot-tall oak pivot door opening, one enters midway between the upper and middle floors. On the main floor, the dropped kitchen ceiling features a large skylight, punctuated by structural members, which floods the space with light during the day. The kitchen ceiling transitions to the ash-planked main living/dining room ceiling. This all-wood ceiling angles upward towards the glass wall and deck to enhance the impact of the expansive scenic vista. Large pieces of structural steel frame the windows and doors on the south-facing view side of the house, allowing for maximum glazing.
The west side of the home includes a fully terraced 'room' complete with fireplace, heaters and even skylights (for sunshine and nighttime star-gazing). The design team collaborated on a fireplace wall and privacy screen composed of metal and Dekton. Outdoor furnishings have modern low-profile lines while making comfort a priority.
Photography: Will Austin