This functional, flexible home is located on a 4300 square foot infill property, in the Houghton neighborhood of Kirkland Washington. Houghton, a waterfront town, was established in the 1870’s and was originally a ship building community. It was annexed into Kirkland in 1968 and since then has experienced many changes. The neighborhood was a dense cluster of small homes built to house workers for the shipyards during World War II. These original houses are being replaced with new homes resulting in an eclectic mix of residences designed to fit with the remaining homes and to fit onto the original small lots.

The design solution is and urban 3 level home with reverse floor plan. Each level includes 1100 square feet and is organized with the communal functions on the topmost floor and bedrooms on the mid-level with the lower level devoted to lower level houses the two-car garage plus auto workshop The loft-like upper level provides an airy living space, flooded with daylight from all sides, featuring a spectacular 180 degree view of Lake Washington.

Two Street frontages provide for dual access points and the topography drops a full story from front to back allowing the entry to open to the neighborhood’s quiet, kid-friendly internal street, while relegating autos to the busier arterial below.

The City’s zoning code allows for Accessory Dwelling Units, so the workshop has been provided with rough-ins for bath, laundry and kitchen, allowing for conversion to a separate studio apartment. Space is allocated for an elevator serving all three floors so the home can be adapted for accessibility, enabling it to serve a multitude of family types in the future.