Cubical shaped contemporary house with concrete walls and horizontal wood siding in Seattle, WA.

Donovan’s End

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost;
that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.

– Thoreau

With commanding views of islands, mountains and sea, this home is conceived as an open volume of living space set atop a stack of sleeping and secondary spaces. Free from the ground, dynamic wing-like wall planes open towards views and light, while embracing interior spaces and providing privacy from street and neighbors.

The slender multistory scheme and small footprint respond to both the site’s challenging topography and the owner’s interest in protecting views for neighboring homeowners. Light-filled interior spaces are composed of simple concrete, plaster, wood, glass, and steel surfaces. The exterior—defined by a two-story concrete base emerging from the ground, coupled with the flying planes of the living area above—is a study in contrasts.

Modern living room area with midcentury furnitures and large sliding door to outdoor porch.
Detail photograph of a contemporary kitchen, floor to ceiling windows provide great view to the outdoor space.
Simply designed kitchen with wooden cabinets and dark countertop; the white walls balance the darker materials in the space.
Shot from the top of stair to the living room.
Exterior evening photograph of front facade of a contemporary residential home; the dark wood panels and concrete wall glow in the gol lights.
Daylight photograph of dining area with modern furnitures; large floor to ceiling windows let the light. generously inside.
Interior detail photograph of contemporary stairway.
Living room photograph with carefully selected midcentury furnitures.
Exterior photograph of a home in Seattle, WA. Blue sky background, tall grass in foreground.

Location: Seattle, WA
Contractor: Anaconda Builders
Photography: John Granen

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