These guys must really like us. Images Publishing Group has included us in yet another of their books on architecture and design. This time, our Parks Residence – a condominium remodel in Seattle – is in “21st Century Architecture: Apartment Living” by Beth Browne.

As always, a successful project depends on a successful team, and in this case we had a great time collaborating with:

• Interior Design – Steven Hensel of Hensel Design Studios
• General Contractor – Dave Boone of dBoone Construction
• Mural – Melissa Koch of Melissa Koch Art & Design Studios
• Custom Furniture – Matt Deschler of Formed Objects

Of course, the project wouldn’t have been possible without the trust given to us by the owners. They gave us clear input as to their desired outcome, and were always prompt and decisive when issues arose during the process. These qualities were as important to the success of the project as any of the skills of the design and fabrication team.

If you’re interested in apartment & condominium design, there are a lot of interesting examples in this book. You can stop by our office to look at a copy, or buy one for your own library from either of Seattle’s most important booksellers – Amazon or Peter Miller Books.

Gotta love the AIA Seattle/Daily Journal of Commerce Project of the Month jury’s comment on our design for the Brooks Dental Studio in Tacoma. I doubt that sentence has ever been uttered before, especially as a description of a dental office. Well, thanks to Dr. Jamie Brooks, we were given the opportunity to design a dental office with a unique look and interesting off-hour activities. Jamie features local artists’ work throughout the office, has commissioned a graffitti artist to liven up the staff area, and has artist open-house receptions on a regular basis. Jamie really knows how to throw a party – they’re definitely the most fun you’ll ever have at the dentist!

For more information on Jamie’s practice, why not check out herwebsite and Facebook page

“House in the Landscape: Siting Your Home Naturally”, a new book by Jeremiah Eck, features our Seola Beach House, on the Puget Sound shoreline of Burien, Washington.

Since we already have photos of the house shown in our portfolio, we decided to include a diagram of the project here. If you’d like additional info, you can contact us directly or add questions and comments below.

And, if you’re in Seattle, why not head over to Peter Miller Books and pick up a copy?

It was a bit of an adventure, but the owners of the Nighthawk Retreat made it out after getting snowed-in overnight. While we can’t think of a better place to get “stuck”, we’re glad they made it out and sent us these wintery pictures.

They also wanted to remind us to donate to our local foodbank. So please join us in joining them in helping others this winter. We’ll make it easier for you by providing this link to Northwest Harvest.

We’re pleased to announce that we were selected as AIA Seattle’s featured firm for December 2010. Basically, we were invited to display our work in AIA Seattle’s storefront at 1911 First Avenue (at Stewart Street, a block from Pike Place Market). We have a slideshow of project photos and some of our architectural models on display. If you happen to be downtown catching up on your holiday shopping, stop by, and then let us know what you think.

“Affordable Architecture: Great Houses on a Budget”, a new book by Stephen Crafti, features our Cavehill Residence, located on the west slope of Queen Anne Hill in Seattle (just a few blocks from our architectural office).

We worked hard to keep the design and scope of this house within the owners’ budget, but what really made it affordable was an incredible amount of sweat-equity. In addition to their own efforts (every day after work, plus weekends), they utilized their friends’ secret skills (tile-setting, welding, raw labor) to the max. Many of the material choices were made based on the owners’ modest installation skills (most notably the clip-on cementitious rainscreen siding), or deals that could be found from local suppliers and salvage yards. And, of course, none of this would have been possible without a general contractor who was willing to put up with the crazy process.