Pacific Northwest Contemporary Residential Architecture

PA C I F I C N O RT H W E S T C O N T E M P O R A RY RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE N ATA L I E H O C H AUTUMN 2019 ENGW3314

United by climate, culture, and passion for the surroundings, the residents of the Pacific Northwest embolden architects to create homes as beautiful as the land they inhabit. Over the last century, a unique architectural style known as Pacific Northwest Contemporary has developed across the region to reflect local pride and values.

ABOVE (AND BACK COVER): House on the Cove, Stephenson Design Collective, Photo by Andrew Pogue

COVER: Martis 476, Method Homes

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

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CLIMATE AND CULTURE OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

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SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

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HISTORY OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONTEMPORARY STYLE ARCHITECTURE

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ATTRIBUTES OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

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WORKS CITED

C L I M AT E A N D C U LT U R E O F The Pacific Northwest of the United States loosely refers to Oregon and Washington; however, the geographic region is often broadened to include a wider area, transcending state and even national borders to encompass part of the southwestern province of British Columbia in Canada, in addition to Idaho, northern California, and even into parts of Montana and Alaska, depending on who’s drawing the perimeter. With these political borders brushed aside, it becomes clear that the greater region is determined by nature. Broadly speaking, these areas share common geographical and ecological features, including vast volcanic mountain ranges and similar micro-ecosystems. Culturally, locals in this far-reaching region tend to engage in a variety of outdoor activities and place considerable value on sustainability.

LEFT: Map of western North America, EncyclopĂŚdia Britannica, Inc. BELOW: Pacific Northwest Landscape with River, Earth.com News RIGHT: Cannon Beach - Oregon, Shutterstock

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T H E PA C I F I C N O RT H W E S T The moderate climate of the Pacific Northwest is transformed by the great variety of terrain: sandy beaches, snowcapped mountains, deep lakes, high deserts, and rain forests can all be found in the region. Throughout the many sub-climates of the Pacific Northwest, trees are a prominent feature. The region is like Christmas-tree-heaven, with colossal evergreen trees painting every hillside with year-round beauty and color. One of the most common native trees in the region, Douglas Fir, can grow up to 300 feet tall, leaving little room to wonder how trees can have as much impact on the skylines of the Pacific Northwest as the buildings that comprise each city. Along with the conifers, massive oak trees and dozens of other varieties of native trees and vegetation combine to create the luscious ecosystem that flourishes throughout the misty region.

To most, the token of the Pacific Northwest is rain; however, visitors will attest that rain in the Pacific Northwest is unlike the rain in other parts of the country. The region gets its reputation from the frequent rainy days; however, the rain is usually very light, ranging from a nearly imperceptible mist to a reassuring drizzle. Many young locals take pride in the fact that they do not own an umbrella because the sprinkling of weather doesn’t warrant one, the dampness is simply a fact of life. For most of the year, the region adopts the mantra “if you can’t do it in the rain, you can’t do it at all” and allows this to encourage activity in spite of the weather, rather than yielding to it. Despite the gloomy stereotypes, summers in the Pacific Northwest are bright and comfortable, often with weeks on end without rain and temperatures mild enough for locals to embrace the indoor-outdoor lifestyle they cherish.

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C L I M AT E A N D C U LT U R E O F Residents of the Pacific Northwest take advantage of the wide range of outstanding terrains around them by delving into infinite outdoor activities. From family-friendly endeavors such as hiking, skiing, and cycling, to more extreme forms of outdoor entertainment like windsurfing, rock climbing, and white-water rafting, the Pacific Northwest is an adventurer’s playground. Regardless of the chosen activity, the passion for the outdoors that is shared among nearly all inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest promotes a mutual respect for nature and other adventurers making their way in the region by celebrating the world around them while minimizing their impact on it.

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T H E PA C I F I C N O RT H W E S T

LEFT: Mt. Rainier - Washington, photo by Dan Waters ABOVE: Crater Lake - Oregon, Adobe Stock RIGHT: High Desert, Oregon Bioscience Association

Driven by an appreciation for the environment as well as the generations-old traditions of local native tribes who have inhabited the region for hundreds of years, the Pacific Northwest is a leader in sustainability. Locals are awake to threats of climate change and excessive waste on their magnificent region, and therefore take many steps to reduce their personal impact.

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S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y I N T H E PA C I F I C N O RT H W E S T With a love of nature comes an obligation to take care of it. As such, locals of the Pacific Northwest are passionate about sustainability. Locals know that all changes can make a difference, from reusable coffee cups and grocery bags to electric cars and solar panels, making decisions with the betterment of the environment in mind is a vital step toward maintaining and improving the natural state of the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

As a pillar of culture in the region, locals pride themselves on keeping the region at the cutting-edge of sustainable practices in all aspects of life. The Pacific Northwest is often an incubator of sustainable practices that spreads across the nation over time. With enough participation from the public, passion for sustainability is pushed forth into government, which further facilitates a society that puts an emphasis on environmentalism. Many local governments across the region develop initiatives that support everything from a reduction of fossil fuel usage to better stormwater management. Slowly but surely, infrastructural improvements are occurring in the region to foster these changes. Some examples include construction of charging stations across metro areas to promote electric cars, widespread improvement of bike path networks to reduce the need for any car at all, and the implementation of urban and suburban rain gardens to improve storm drainage and establish natural filtration along hardscaped infrastructure.

ABOVE: Tanner Springs Park - Oregon, Landscape Architect Atelier Dreiseitl, Creative Commons photo by Graham Ballantyne

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Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels get most of the limelight when it comes to sustainable homes, thanks to their widespread promotion in recent years and their iconic appearance. Despite the clouds and frequent drizzle, solar panels can be a valuable asset in architecture of the Pacific Northwest, however, it is often the more subtle features that architects aim to incorporate in their designs.

RIGHT: Solar Studio, Wittman Estes Architects, photo by Andrew Pogue

ABOVE: Karuna House, Holst Architects, photo by Jeremy Bittermann

Thanks to the moderate climate, many areas of the Pacific Northwest enjoy comfortable summers of mild heat and low humidity. In these cases, strategically placed windows allow homes to be opened up during nice weather, creating a cross-ventilation that refreshes the home with nothing but a summer breeze and a smart design. In the winter, similar strategies are utilized across the Pacific Northwest to maximize the warming effects of the sun. Windows are often accompanied by overhangs that shield the interior of the house from the hot summer sun, but allow the low winter sunlight to penetrate without obstruction, helping to reduce the energy required to heat the home.

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H I S TO RY O F PA C I F I C N O RT H W E S T C O N T E M P O R A RY S T Y L E A R C H I T E C T U R E

ABOVE: Klallam Plank Houses, mural in Port Angeles, courtesy of Sarah Sterling / PSU

From the outset of habitation of the Pacific Northwest, native tribes have made use of strong local woods such as Douglas Fir to construct permanent structures. They also understood the value of bringing natural light indoors through rudimentary skylights that could be uncovered during dry days. These first structures in the region are the earliest traces of the Pacific Northwest Contemporary style, with local materials and natural light still important factors of design.

Before widespread European settlements spread through the region, small groups of Chinese craftsmen were sent to construct permanent tradeposts and factories for the English fur trade (Paul 4). With them, these craftsmen brought construction techniques developed over centuries in Asia, which spread to many of the local tribes. Thanks to this handful of Chinese carpenters, architecture in the Pacific Northwest has a long history of Asian influence, which is particularly evident in beautifully expressed wooden joinery and vast overhanging roofs, which are useful in the damp but mild climate.

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Many decades later, the bustling young city of Seattle is home to the University of Washington, which includes an architecture department founded in 1914. Largely thanks to the education and resources provided by this university, an architectural style known as Northwest Regional Style developed from the 1930’s through the 1960’s. A predecessor of Pacific Northwest Contemporary, Northwest Regional Style was a local variant of the wildly popular International Style which swept the western world of architecture in the 1920s and ‘30s. International Style is characterized by largely rectilinear architecture with an emphasis on lightness, openness, and a lack of traditional ornamentation. Material in International Style architecture is meant to be honest and undistracting, with glass and steel featured most often. Northwest Regional Style took the principles of International Style and localized them to create a style that was both beautiful and functional for the Pacific Northwest.

ABOVE: Davis House - Washington, architect Mary Lund Davis, courtesy of Dearborn-Massar/University of Washington Libraries - Special Collections

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ABOVE: Burkes-Belluschi House - Oregon, architect Pietro Belluschi, photo by Sally Painter

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The first seed of individuality in the modernism of the Pacific Northwest grew out of a use of local materials. Internationally available steel posts and beams were replaced by beautiful old-growth timber, sourced from the region’s vast forests. This simple swap instantly created a warmth in the residential architecture that had been stripped away by the International Style’s determination for ornament-free design. For architects, the question that sprang forward from timber post and beam construction was that of joinery. Once it was decided to leave these wooden elements exposed inside the home, the value of refined joints and connections within the system skyrocketed. Naturally, this led to inspiration from Japanese architecture, which is world-famous for its post and beam wooden joinery details.

The second shift away from the traditional International Style was based in practicality. After years of designing flat-roofed houses, the architects of what became known as the “Northwest School” learned the error of their ways: flat roofs leak. The asphalt roofs so popular with modernism at the time created endless problems for homeowners and architects alike when water repeatedly pooled on the surface, eventually finding its way into the home. Through the acceptance that it was better to adapt their design than try to fight nature, the mid-century architects of the Pacific Northwest developed an appreciation for shingled, sloping roofs. This development gave materiality and texture a twofor-two win in architecture of the region.

Watzek House - Oregon, architect John Yeon, photo by Jeremy Bittermann

Not only were these changes practical and beautiful, but they helped to give the newly-built homes a language that was already present in the residential homes surrounding them, better integrating them into the neighborhoods than the white boxes of International Style could ever hope to achieve. These developments in local style set a precedent for architecture that was not preoccupied with the latest trends or proclamations from famous “starchitects” across the globe, but rather a passion for what was necessary and what worked in the region. There were no manifestos for what Northwest Modernism “should be”. Instead, if you ask a local mid-century architect what dictates their style, they may simply tell you “go outside.” The designs further diverged from International Style through their adaptation to site. Instead of focusing on principles learned in classrooms and essays, the practicing architects of the Northwest School quickly shifted to place a higher emphasis on the uniquenesses of each site they worked on, tailoring the design to the lives of their clients. In the Pacific Northwest, a design should never require a site to be stripped of its identity; instead, the topography and vegetation of the site informs and challenges the architecture, demanding a higher level of design which turns the landscape into an advantage to be prized.

ABOVE: Stickers Northwest INC.

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AT T R I B U T E S O F PA C I F I C N O RT H W E S T OPENNESS With changes in family lifestyles have come shifts in all styles of residential design. Interconnectivity has risen to the forefront of most home-buyers, who are looking for open floor plans to bring families together and turn entertaining into a cohesive event for chefs and social butterflies alike. Openness is a pillar of Pacific Northwest Contemporary architecture because in addition to these culture-driven benefits, openness enhances the architecture through greater penetration of natural light, and passive air flow. Large great rooms with vaulted ceilings allow opportunities for lofts and catwalks that further connect living spaces to upper floors. These spaces are the perfect moments for the rich feature materials, allowing natural woods and stones to shine without overpowering the space. The most open part of Pacific Northwest Contemporary homes are paired with the expansive glass to create a connectedness not only with other interior spaces, but with the landscape outside. These spaces are commonly connected to an additional living space outside that encourages indoor-outdoor living whenever possible. High-end examples of Pacific Northwest Contemporary architecture often feature operable walls of windows that fold or slide away, dissolving the line that separates inside from outside.

LEFT: Music Box Residence - Oregon, Scott Edwards Architecture LLP RIGHT (BOTH): Lake Washington Shores Residence Washington, Garret Cord Werner Architects

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C O N T E M P O R A RY A R C H I T E C T U R E JAPANESE DESIGN INFLUENCE Over the course of the blossoming of Northwest Modern style in the middle of the 20th century, the influence of Japanese design and construction techniques flourished. A style that began as a branch of the Euro-centric International Style became more closely tied to the long-standing techniques and styles of Japanese architecture. For centuries, Japanese builders have used complex and highly detailed interlocking connections in wood construction to create stable joints without the need for glue or metal fasteners. This phenomenon is widely respected throughout all architectural communities, however the practicality and desire to utilize wood for its structural and aesthetic characteristics in the Pacific Northwest makes this venerated Japanese skill the ideal inspiration.

Even when traditional joinery techniques aren’t employed, Pacific Northwest Contemporary architecture shares several common design features with contemporary Japanese architecture. One common thread between the two regional styles is the prominence of strong planar elements and reinforced lines throughout the design. Horizontal planes and lines are often used to pull the architecture into the landscape, sometimes going one step further by reflecting the horizontal nature of features in the landscape. Vertical components take the utilitarian need for structure and transform it into an aesthetic asset to strengthen the framing of views as well as the connection or indeed disconnection with the ground plane.

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AT T R I B U T E S O F PA C I F I C N O RT H W E S T INCORPORATION OF NATURAL LANDSCAPE The importance of nature and landscape cannot be emphasized enough in Pacific Northwest Contemporary design. What was started by Native Americans and continued by mid-century Northwest Modern architects has only grown stronger in twenty-first century architecture of the Pacific Northwest. Today, houses are sculpted around site elements like large trees and natural brooks, turning these works of nature into works of art. One example of this can be seen when outdoor courtyards are incorporated into the center of the home, allowing existing vegetation to coexist with the family in the house. The result is a fantastically intimate outdoor space that also creates incredible drama during the all-so-frequent rainy days.

On steep sites, Pacific Northwest Contemporary architecture may contort or cantilever off of the ground to accommodate it in a dramatic fashion, or transition between a single-story entrance and a hidden multi-level residence down below.

Locals appreciate the intense terrain of the Pacific Northwest as an opportunity to peak out over the treetops and take in whatever magnificent view is revealed.

ABOVE: Tree House, DeForest Architects, photo

by Haris Kenjar

RIGHT: High Desert Modern, DeForest Architects, photo by John Granen

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C O N T E M P O R A RY A R C H I T E C T U R E LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIALS From the earliest development of the Northwest Regional Style in the mid 20th century, use of warm natural materials set the style apart from the placeless design of International Style. When possible, local homeowners take pride in sourcing the building materials for their dream house from within the site itself, to drastically reduce the environmental impact of transportation from the construction of their home. When trees must be cleared in order to accommodate the building, there is no greater use for the timber than putting it to good use as beautiful roof rafters, a unique railing, or the structure of the home itself. To take things a couple steps further, the architects and homeowners may seek out locally-quarried stone for countertops and even natural river rock for feature walls or shower floors.

RIGHT: Ferris Cabin - Idaho, Patano Studio

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AT T R I B U T E S O F PA C I F I C N O RT H W E S T EXPANSIVE GLASS Influential architect Philip Johnson described the Pacific Northwest as “the ideal part of the world for glass- especially high glass.” This notion rings true in architecture of the region today, just as it did during the Northwest School’s development of Northwest Modern during the middle of the 20th century. Strategically placed windows throughout Pacific Northwest Contemporary designs balance passive-solar heat gains with eye-catching views that are found all over the region.

Although specific attributes can vary, it is common for glazing in this style of architecture to reach the ceiling, floor, or both, especially in living areas. Large swaths of glass are partitioned when needed and attached to the structure by black mullions and frames, which minimize the disruption from the inside, while accentuating the strong architectural lines on the exterior. The glass itself is often double or triple paned, which reduces thermal energy losses and helps to protect the glass against raucous hail storms and heavy winds. Like its predecessor, Pacific Northwest Contemporary architecture is often relatively opaque and understated from the front entrance of the house, but opens up brilliantly toward whatever natural feature can be highlighted. Whether a far-off sight or a clustering of beautiful pines just a few yards away, there is seldom a site in the Pacific Northwest without something in the landscape worth celebrating.

ABOVE: Suteki House - Oregon, Kengo Kuma, photo by Justin Krug

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ABOVE: Lake Washington - Washington, Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

C O N T E M P O R A RY A R C H I T E C T U R E SLOPING ROOFS As the architects of the Northwest School learned the hard way, the flat roofs of the International Style of modernism are magnets for roof leaks in the drizzly Northwest climate. Out of necessity, sloped roofs became a facet of Northwest Modernism and subsequently Pacific Northwest Contemporary. In addition to a slope, Pacific Northwest Contemporary homes frequently include more than one roof line, creating a dramatic compound form. Sometimes these roofs slice against each other, other times they may slide past one another, adding a level of texture to the shape of the structure and emphasizing the architectural design and rich materials.

ABOVE: North Lake Wenatchee - Washington, DeForest Architects

EXPOSED RAW STRUCTURE Architecture in the Pacific Northwest Contemporary style emphasizes structural honesty. Designers believe that there is beauty in the natural hierarchy of structure, and in the variety of materials used to achieve it. Rich woods are balanced by cold steel and impassive concrete to create a cohesive contemporary home that blends industrial design sensibilities with warm natural features. Ideally, system of wood, steel, and concrete makes up the structure of the home that then goes on to become the faรงade or interior finish without the need for superficial veneer.

ABOVE: Mercer Island Modern - Washington, Garret Cord Werner Architects

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PA C I F I C N O RT H W E S T C O N T E M P O R A RY RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE N ATA L I E H O C H AUTUMN 2019 ENGW3314