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“The Family” has a flexible plan layout that fits up to three bedrooms, serving a variety of family sizes and needs. This 2-story design is just under the maximum allowable square footage for a backyard cottage in Seattle, and may be built on lots starting at 30’-0” wide.
The design efficiently focuses the bathrooms and kitchen in the center of the floor plan, while leaving the rooms on either side open to varying, flexible arrangements. The living room could become a bedroom, and the dining space could be a double-height living area. The location of the main entrance can be determined based on the preferred use of the ground floor spaces. The plan is also symmetrical, allowing for flexible positioning in a backyard in order to take advantage of ideal solar orientation and cross ventilation.
The building footprint is minimized to reflect the scale of most Seattle backyards, and the steeply-pitched roof helps to minimize view blockage from surrounding buildings. Standard building materials and a simple form reduce costs, so that financial resources can be directed to provide the feel of a custom home through generous windows, thoughtful detailing, built-in furnishings and higher end finishes.
Large windows and cross-ventilation in every room allow for passive cooling as much as possible. Rainwater harvesting and solar PV panels are encouraged to increase energy efficiency.
A larger version of this design (1132 SF) has recently been pre-approved for a streamlined permitting process in Kirkland.
