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An incredible city retreat perched on a bluff overlooking the Salish Sea

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This impressive city retreat, designed by DeForest Architects, is located on a low bluff overlooking the Salish Sea in Seattle, Washington. The home sits on a former sheep pasture, which also features an orchard and towering evergreens, along with a residence once owned by the daughter of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. The homeowner has an adventurous spirit and a passion for art and landscaping.

The structure features concrete and steel elements, blending into the hillside, more than half of which is situated below ground. Instead of dominating the landscape, the design is integrated into the environment, sheltered by extensive green roofs and complemented by luminous courtyards. Significant elements of the home, such as the lap pool, are placed below the original pasture level, making only a small portion of the structure visible from above.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECTURE DeForest Architects CONTRACTOR Lockhart Suver INTERIOR DESIGN NB Design Group, Lucas Interior LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Charles Anderson Landscape Architecture STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Swenson Say Faget

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Above: A covered walkway leads from the garage and through the garden, providing views into the serene conservatory dining room. The entry door demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship, custom fabricated from a decommissioned airplane wing. The doorbell, repurposed from a scuba tank, adds a unique touch to the entryway.

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The homeโ€™s environmental impact is minimized through the use of a rooftop solar array, a ground-source heat and cooling system, and planted roofs. The extensive green roofs also manage water by channeling it to various water features and bioretention planters. Additionally, substantial portions of the building are embedded in the ground to help reduce energy consumption.

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What We Love: This spectacular city retreat melds with the surrounding landscape, creating a harmonious balance between modern living and natural beauty. We love how the eco elements have been stylishly integrated into this stunning home. There are so many unique and customized features, from the slide that leads to the lower level, to the underground swimming pool and the wall panel that conceals a wine tunnel. The impressive green roof helps to integrate this home into its environment, providing energy efficiency and a lush, natural aesthetic that enhances the home’s sustainability.

Tell Us: What details in the design of this house do you find most appealing? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below!

Note: Check out a couple of other fabulous home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Washington: See this cozy rustic bunkhouse getaway on Guemes Island, Washington and A peek inside this remarkable modern house nestled on Lake Washington.

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Above: Interior living spaces showcase board-formed concrete, exposed structural steel, and reclaimed finishes, including surfaces made of beetle-kill pine. The great room’s two-story volume directs the view westward, across the bay and toward the Olympic mountain range beyond

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The living space features expansive steel windows that frame breathtaking views of the water. A board-formed concrete fireplace serves as a focal point in the room, and it also serves as a gallery for the owner’s impressive art collection.

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On the landward side, under the soaring ceiling, there is a loft that includes another seating area, an office, and a concealed bathroom.

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Above: This historic fireplace, featured in local articles about President Roosevelt’s visits, has been completely reconstructed. The house is full of surprises, including an internal slide and a large wall panel that swings open to reveal a “wine tunnel.” This tunnel leads to another secret door and a cliffside hideaway.

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This city retreat was designed to be full of surprises, including this underground lap pool. Imagine swimming beneath the surface and emerging at the bluff’s edge with breathtaking views of the Sound beyond.

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PHOTOGRAPHER Benjamin Benschneider

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Josh
3 days ago

Lots of great ideas here.

Colin_MacGillivray
8 days ago

I think it’s a well-considered extension, but…the heft of the roof would give me nightmares. It is just slightly too overpowering.