David Coleman Architecture

Broadmoor Residence

Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating

BROADMOOR RESIDENCE

David Coleman Architecture

MANUFACTURERS
Bocci, Moooi, Quantum Windows & Doors, Subzero/wolf, Baldwin

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Gary Gill

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
New Town Builders, John Korhumel

PHOTOGRAPHS
Steve Keating

AREA
6058 FT²

YEAR
2015

LOCATION
Seattle, United States

CATEGORY
Houses, Houses Interiors

Text description provided by architect.

Our design explores the notion of merging building and landscape. The original house, designed in 1956 by a prominent Seattle architect, is located in the private enclave of Broadmoor.

Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating

It was conceived as a meandering, one-story structure on a pastoral, ½ acre site. The original plan was rather ambiguous, gesturing toward the landscape but never fully embracing it.

A 1970’s remodel further eroded the integrity of the plan, resulting in a muddled house with little coherent spatial integrity.

Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating

Our goal was to clarify the plan, add on where needed to improve livability, merge interior and exterior space where possible, and elevate the feeling-tone of the building.

To accomplish that we set in motion a series of interventions that had the effect of better defining access to the house, movement through the house, and the relationship between interior and exterior space.

Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating

This resulted in a transformation of the whole, elevating the overall quality of the building and landscape, allowing the promise of the original structures and site to be fully realized.

From the street, one ascends the original, meandering stone stair from the sidewalk to a new courtyard, defined by building and stone landscape walls.

Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating

A portion of this courtyard was excavated 30” deep to create space for a long, low window opening into the lower level yoga room, and to allow construction of a bridge between garden and home. This bridge acts as a threshold, a point-of-arrival, and a clean demarcation between public and private space.

The interiors are organized around a gallery on the street side of the building. The rooms have a processional quality, opening to one another and to the great outdoors.

Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating

Most rooms overlook the meadow, located in the back yard. Oversized lift-slide doors and large planes of glass dissolve the line between inside and out and allow free movement, physically and visually.

The plan retains the openness that one expects in a modern home, but also contains a semblance of intimacy that is not expected in such a large, open building.This is accomplished by the insertion of subtle yet effective architectural devices, all lending a more human and approachable scale.

Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating

Changes in ceiling height, changes in wall and/or flooring material, the insertion of free-standing cabinets, a floor-to-ceiling wall here, a twist and turn in the plan there, all help to create this quality of intimacy.

The master suite retains the openness characteristic of the rest of the plan. One enters rather uniquely into a dressing room, complete with vanities, access to the bath, walk-in closet and sleeping chamber.

The bath is conceived as a wet room, and contains a free-standing bathtub that opens onto a private courtyard. The sleeping chamber opens on to the meadow.

Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating

The children’s wing is located in a 2-story suite, the lower level containing a play/art/work space that opens onto the kitchen and side-entry, complete with a laundry/mud room.

An open stair ascends to two bedrooms and a bath, all wrapping around a two-story, light-filled atrium overlooking the play room.

The material pallet was kept decidedly simple to create a unified ambiance, reduce visual noise, and minimize distraction to the outdoor views.

Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating

Sapeli windows and doors provide a warm frame for those garden views; complimentary dark wood floors create continuity, warm gray ceramic tile recalls the concrete slabs on the exterior.

Clean white plaster ceilings and wall partitions help to maintain brightness on the bleakest days; blackened steel hardware and trims provide contrast and visual interest.

Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating


Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating
Broadmoor Residence
© Steve Keating


Broadmoor Residence
Floor plan

David Coleman Architecture
T +1 206 4435626
David Coleman Architecture
202 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103, United States