Seattle’s Pike/Pine Corridor is one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Scoring 100 on a walkability score, it encompasses colleges, hospitals, a grocery store, park, and a wide range of stores, restaurants, and bars. Bus lines run through the neighborhood, and a light rail station is under construction 10 minutes walk away.

Our client, a resident of the neighborhood, wanted to create housing for people working nearby. Her goal was economic and cultural sustainability for the building and its surroundings. The program was multi-use: ground level retail, 27 units between 623 and 1,137 SF, and underground parking.

The owner approached the architect with a design challenge:
How do you create multi-family housing in this neighborhood without detracting from its spirit and energy?

Our design response:
Embrace context.
We looked to the history of the site and the neighborhood as Seattle’s “auto row.” This typology is captured in 1111 E. Pike’s tall, wide windows and high ceilings, the use of steel at the entrance, and an exterior of panelized siding with a palette inspired by classic car colors from the 1950s.

Make it affordable.
1111 E. Pike was built for $169/SF. The owner is covering the first three years of condo fees for people working as teachers, social workers and medical workers.

Encourage individualization, inside and out.
Owners were able to choose the exterior color of their unit, resulting in a mix-and-match aesthetic. Inside, a custom-designed Puzzle Door slides across each unit, allowing the owner to adapt their space as needed.

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