Northwest Originals: Five Seattle Case Studies Worth Revisiting
The Seahawks just won Super Bowl LX. And while the city celebrates, Seattle’s housing market is looking for its own "championship bonus." According to the Zillow Home Value Index, in 13 of the past 20 years, metro areas that won the championship saw home values grow faster than the U.S. average in the year that followed, gaining an average of $4,437 more in value than the rest of the country.
While there are skeptics, Seattle fans have seen this play out before. When the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, the typical home value grew by $22,546 over the next year, outperforming the national average by $13,667.
Whether or not a trophy actually influences real estate, Seattle’s custom home market continues to show resilience, with builders and architects delivering high-caliber work. Here are five projects from our archive that are worth a celebratory revisit.
The Luxury Houseboat
A floating home on Seattle's Portage Bay demonstrates what's possible when unique construction techniques meet thoughtful design on a constrained site. Built by Dyna Builders and designed by Hohside Wanzer Architects, the 1,780-square-foot home maximizes functionality and comfort while balancing openness to the outdoors with a sense of retreat. The client also happened to be the project's architect. Read the case study.
The Steep Slope Project
With views of Puget Sound, the seven-bedroom, 5,500-square-foot residence serves a blended, artistic family of eight with terraced gardens and nearly 360-degree views.
But the tricky lot, striking cantilever, and specific client requirements demanded a full year of pre-construction and two years of construction. Learn how they solved the complex site and design challenges.
Neighboring Modern Infill Concepts
A Seattle architecture firm's specialty is in innovative infill homes that maximize natural light on dense urban sites.
In one such neighborhood, the firm developed two adjacent projects: The Lookout, a single-family home elevated above three parking spaces, and Shake Shacks, three cedar-clad townhomes. See how the projects came to life.
The Midcentury Lake Home
On the north shore of Washington’s Mercer Island, this midcentury-style home had the kind of bones that attract the right kind of renovation. But a series of past remodels had muddled the original design, especially in the kitchen and entries, leaving the interiors dark and disjointed.
The challenge wasn’t just aesthetic, it was functional: how to modernize circulation and enhance indoor-outdoor flow without compromising the home’s midcentury character. See how they did it.
The Personality-Filled Reno
Falling in love with its wooded lot and quiet surroundings, a Seattle couple purchased a 1919 Craftsman home in the city’s Pritchard Island neighborhood in 2019.
While they initially loved the property’s age and character, spending all their time in the home during the COVID-19 pandemic made the space feel cramped and nonfunctional. Still, they sought to revamp the home without removing the quirky features they'd fallen for. Learn how they struck that balance.
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About the Author
Pauline Hammerbeck
Pauline Hammerbeck is the editor of Custom Builder, the leading business media brand for custom builders and their architectural and design partners. She also serves as a senior editor for Pro Builder, where she directs products coverage and the brand's MVP Product Awards. With experience across the built environment - in architecture, real estate, retail, and design - Pauline brings a broad perspective to her work. Reach her at [email protected].