Before & After: Two Former Circus Performers Remodel Their Home Like a Refined Big Top
This hillside residence in Seattle tempers three-ring spectacle with the restraint of Japanese design to fix a disjointed plan.
This hillside residence in Seattle tempers three-ring spectacle with the restraint of Japanese design to fix a disjointed plan.
Although this West Seattle home had a fantastic location on a sloped lot near a city park and a good amount of square footage, it felt fragmented inside thanks to a string of piecemeal remodels since its construction in 1975. The most recent owners wanted better flow between the rooms, and connection to the incredible water views.
SHED Architecture + Design stepped in with a remodel plan that draws on the homeowners’ past experiences. "Having lived in Japan, they enjoyed both traditional and contemporary design elements, from the concept of the tea room to Studio Ghibli to contemporary Japanese architecture," notes SHED. "They sought a balance of old and new, crafted and minimal." The clients’ former professions as circus performers also came into play, as it gave them an "affinity for open, dynamic spaces," says the firm.
To that end, SHED significantly streamlined the home by first unifying the exterior façade, and then organizing the new interior plan around the idea of the "big top," which is the primary tent of a circus.
Before: Exterior and Entry Sequence
After: Exterior and Entry Sequence
Now, custom-milled cedar and charcoal metal panels streamline the front façade. The bright orange chimney acts as the "tent pole" at the center of the redesign.
Tony Kim
See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: Two Former Circus Performers Remodel Their Home Like a Refined Big Top
