Sound of the Contemporary – Alana

Sound of the Contemporary■

”Walls of steel, stone, glass in flight.

4000 square feet of modernism looks west into Puget Sound; it sits on the water like a beacon, singing a siren’s song for all to hear as boats ferry passengers back and forth between the islands and the mainland of Seattle.

Working on The Sound, weather changes drastically. Facing west, crews are regularly met with storms barreling in from the Pacific Ocean. This project was no different: overcoming a mudslide and limited access, all while successfully maneuvering vehicles throughout a steep and narrow roadway.

On approach, the swooping undulation of the roofline echos the body of water on which it sits, capping what the architect describes as a pavilion, which includes the main living area of the structure.

Massive walls of glass are framed by exposed structural steel. They sit atop an architectural foundation housing the family room, media room, and children’s bedrooms and baths, giving separation from the master bedroom loft space in the upper recesses of the pavilion.

Moving past the roofline, a guest is welcomed by a large stainless steel entry door. It moves out, in one significant motion by two motorized pivots. Entering the home, we are greeted by gray cast-in-place concrete walls. It’s here the siren’s song envelops us, but we’re soon warmed by the radiant floors and solar heating.