The Courtyard House is a modern home with traditional sensibilities.  Located within a historic residential neighborhood of Seattle, the client stressed the importance of properly placing the project within the neighborhood context. Traditional homes of the neighborhood are typically organized in a single consolidated volume.  This project effectively stretches and pulls apart this single volume, creating an interesting interplay of solid and void, space and light.  The resulting scheme is a u-shaped plan, featuring two larger, linear volumes placed at the east and west boundaries of the lot. These volumes are connected by a perpendicular central mass, situated towards the northern lot line, creating a central courtyard between the three volumes.

Unlike typical courtyard designs, this project takes a unique approach by lowering the courtyard surface below grade, creating a serene zen garden at the basement level with the basement spaces organized radially around it. The resulting void above the courtyard acts as a lightwell, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the public areas of the house at the other levels, enhancing the luminosity of the interior.  The abundant windows also establish a strong connection with the surrounding gardens, visually expanding the perceived space within the home. By layering and screening the plantings, pocket gardens were created to offer unique spaces withing the yard while also providing for various levels of privacy, a notable concern on a compact urban lot. 

Perched above the gardens on the eastern slope, the larger eastern wing of the house offers panoramic views of Lake Washington, Bellevue, and the Cascade Mountains. At the main level, the kitchen and dining area are thoughtfully positioned to provide broad views out to the east as well as a direct functional connection to a generous exterior southern deck. The upper level of the wing houses the main bedroom suite, and hovers over the deck and landscape below.  Organized for each space to frame key views of the larger unimpeded vista, the elevated suite provides enhanced privacy, and functions like a private urban retreat.