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dezeen@xn--y9azesw6bu.xn--y9a3aq
dezeen (unofficial)

Olson Kundig creates floating Water Cabin in Seattle's Portage Bay

image

Water Cabin by Olson Kundig

Knotty cedar and galvanised steel were used to form a two-storey, floating home by US firm Olson Kundig that draws upon cabin architecture.

The Water Cabin is located in Seattle's Portage Bay, just south of the University of Washington. It serves as a full-time residence for a client who previously rented a floating house in the area and decided to build his own home there when a lot became available.

Cedar facadeThe Water Cabin floats on Seattle's Portage Bay

Designed by local firm Olson Kundig, the building is intended to offer "a cabin sensibility in an urban environment".

In particular, it draws upon design principal Jim Olson's personal cabin in rural Washington, which features rectilinear volumes, overhanging roofs and a subdued colour palette.

Water CabinIts living space opens onto a terrace

The floating home is also designed to provide a strong connection to the bay, which is part of a canal connecting the Puget Sound to Lake Washington.

"Small in stature, the home creates a platform from which to enjoy and engage with the surrounding waterway," the team said.

Living room by Olson KundigThe home has a horizontal stature

The building consists of two levels, with the upper one stepping back to create a "sense of refuge". The recess also allowed for a 100-square-foot (9.3-square-metre) terrace.

Flat, overhanging roofs shade patios and large stretches of glass. Visually speaking, the roofs contribute to the home's low, horizontal stature.

Floating home kitchenOlson Kundig added glass windows with sweeping views

"The horizontal lines of the building echo the flat plane of the lake in an effort to make it one with the site," said Olson.

Given the home's location, the team chose exterior materials that are low-maintenance and can hold up in a marine environment.

Staircase in Water CabinWarm wooden tones contrast with metal finishes in silver and black tones

The structural system is made of galvanized steel, and facades are clad in knotty western red cedar that was lightly stained.

"The siding's thin, vertical wood slats are arranged in an irregular articulated pattern, recalling the random composition of trees in a forest," the team said.

Cosy bedroom interiorThe floating home's cosy interior takes cues from forest cabins

Inside, the 1,580-square-foot (147-square-metre) home offers all the key living elements. "There are strict restrictions on the size and dimensions of floating homes," said Olson. "Our client wanted to make the best use of every inch."

The lower level encompasses an open space for lounging, dining, cooking and working. There also is a hidden Murphy bed for guests.

[

Read:

Olson Kundig perches beach home on stilts in Canadian forest

](https://www.dezeen.com/2021/07/27/olson-kundig-tolfino-beach-house-vancouver-island/)

A glazed corner and large, sliding doors enable the interior to flow onto a patio with ipe wood decking. A window-lined staircase – which serves as a light well – leads to the top floor, where the team placed a bedroom suite.

Like the lower level, floor-to-ceiling glass provides sweeping views of the watery terrain and diminishes the boundary between inside and out.

Horizontal floating homeFloor-to-ceiling glass provides views of the watery terrain

Materials within the home include knotty cedar, oak and birch. Warm wooden tones are contrasted with metal finishes in silver and black tones.

Overall, the home is intended to feel cosy and intimately tied to its surroundings, similar to a cabin in the forest.

"This informal, low-contrast interior supports a sense of the home as an oasis, despite its location in a bustling community," the team said.

Floating cabinFlat, overhanging roofs shade patios and large stretches of glass

Other floating homes in Seattle's Portage Bay include a compact dwelling by Studio DIAA that features a dark exterior and a light-toned interior.

The photography is byAaron Leitz.

Project credits:

Architect: Olson Kundig

Project team: Jim Olson (design principal), Jason Roseler (project manager), Betty Huang, Christine Burkland, Eunice Kim and Hunter Van Bramer

General contractor: Dyna Contracting

Structural engineer: Voelker Engineering

Lighting design: Brian Hood

The post Olson Kundig creates floating Water Cabin in Seattle's Portage Bay appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #residential #instagram #usa #cedar #seattle #washingtonstate #olsonkundigarchitects #cabins #floatingarchitecture

Olson Kundig creates floating Water Cabin in Seattle's Portage Bay

Knotty cedar and galvanised steel were used to form a two-storey, floating home by US firm Olson Kundig that draws upon cabin architecture.

dezeen@xn--y9azesw6bu.xn--y9a3aq
dezeen (unofficial)

SHED gives mid-century Golden House in Seattle an extensive update

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SHED Golden House

American firm SHED Architecture and Design has transformed a 1950s building that formerly served as an adult living facility into a contemporary home for a family of five.

The Golden House is located in Shoreline, a community just north of Seattle, and sits on a large lot with views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.

The Golden HouseThe Golden House sits on a large lot with views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound

Designed by an unknown architect in 1959, the 4,080-square-foot (379-square-metre) house was converted into an adult living facility years ago.

Local firm SHED Architecture and Design was charged with turning the two-storey building back into a single-family house for a couple and their three children.

Golden House by SHEDSHED reconfigured the layout of the home's upper level

"Although the house had good bones, modifications adapting the original layout for use as an adult living facility – combined with deferred maintenance – had tarnished the structure inside and out," the team said.

The most extensive changes took place indoors. The upper level holds the public zone, an office and the main bedroom suite, while the lower floor holds sleeping areas.

Kitchen with central islandThe kitchen is organised around a central island

Working around the existing post-and-beam structure, the team reconfigured the upper level's layout by removing walls and built-in casework. An emphasis was placed on providing natural light and views.

"Although the structure is re-engineered to work with the revised floor plan, the post- and-beam structure was retained as a principle organising system and integrated into the design," the team said.

Powder room by SHEDDragon-themed wallpaper wraps the powder room

The kitchen was moved and enlarged, with the new space organised around a central island that overlooks the dining and living area.

Just off the kitchen is an office, pantry and coat closet, along with a powder room wrapped in dragon-themed wallpaper.

Terrazzo tiles by SHEDBathroom tiles are formed from black and white terrazzo

In the living area, where casework had been removed, the team placed a wooden "soffit" that extends over a circulation area and helps proportion the room. The team also installed low-lying cabinetry with a built in DJ station.

An old fireplace was redesigned and faced with concrete masonry units (CMUs) with a ground-down surface. A new concrete bench surrounds the hearth.

[ Inside Me-Kwa-Mooks Net-Zero house by SHED

Read:

Circus tents and Japanese architecture inform Seattle house renovation

](https://www.dezeen.com/2020/10/15/me-kwa-mooks-net-zero-house-shed-seattle-usa/)

The team used a restrained palette of materials throughout the public area, including cork flooring, rift-sawn white oak paneling, and white sheetrock walls. Trim was painted black to create visual consistency.

"As a nod to the past, the original natural slate tile and metal railing were preserved in the entryway," the team added.

Children's bedroomDownstairs, a storage room was made into a children's bedroom

In the main bedroom suite are elements such as a grasscloth wall panel and bathroom tile made of black-and-white terrazzo. A "connecting datum" made of white oak wraps behind the mirrors and the tub.

Downstairs, the team made changes to accommodate three children. A storage room was turned into a shared bedroom, and bed cubbies made of plywood were installed.

Black trim for visual consistencyGolden House's trim was painted black to create visual consistency

A small bathroom was cleverly reconfigured to be more suitable for multiple users.

Outside of the house, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and driveway were removed to create a large lawn. The team also updated the building envelope by installing new windows and insulation, along with automated blinds on the west to cut down on solar heat gain.

Natural light and viewsAn emphasis was placed on providing natural light and views during the renovation

Founded in 1998, SHED has completed a number of residential projects in Washington, including a home on a bluff clad in rough-sawn cedar, a compact dwelling in a backyard, and a sensitive renovation of a 1950s abode.

The photography is byRafael Soldi.

Project credits:

Architect: SHED Architecture and Design

Contractor: Ambrose Construction

Structural engineer: Todd Perbix

Landscape designer: Susan Papanikolas

Lighting designer: Sparklab Lighting Design

Casework: Beechtree Woodworks

The post SHED gives mid-century Golden House in Seattle an extensive update appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #residential #usa #houses #seattle #washingtonstate #renovations #americanhouses #midcenturyrenovations #shedarchitectureanddesign

SHED gives mid-century Golden House in Seattle an extensive update

SHED Architecture and Design has transformed a 1950s former adult living facility building into a contemporary home for a family of five.

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sylviaj@joindiaspora.com
Sylvia J

Kshama Sawant recall election is a high-stakes moment for Seattle

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/kshama-sawant-recall-election-is-a-high-stakes-moment-for-seattle/
https://truthout.org/articles/recall-campaign-against-socialist-kshama-sawant-is-backed-by-billionaires/

#KshamaSawant is a member of #Socialist-Alternative, the #first and #only #member of the party to date to be #elected to #public #office in the #US.

#kshamasawant #sawant #socialist #alternative #high-stakes #recall #election #7december #KeepKshama #working-class $ #15min-wage #tax-Amazon #renters-rights #recall #election #high-stakes-moment #seattle

Kshama Sawant recall election is a high-stakes moment for Seattle

Only residents of Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant's district are deciding whether she should be recalled, but the Dec. 7 vote could ripple through the entire city's political scene. Here's what's at stake.

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olladij_tudajev@joindiaspora.com
Olladij

Twenty-two years ago today, anarchists and other protesters successfully blockaded and shut down the summit of the World Trade Organization in #Seattle. This was the dramatic debut of what journalists dubbed the “ anti-globalization movement”—in fact, a global movement against neoliberal #capitalism. Over the past few years, we have observed the twenty-year anniversaries of several of the high points of this movement. Today, we reflect on its origins and what it can teach contemporary movements.
When we think of the so-called #anti-globalization movement, we think of massive summit protests. In addition to the historic mobilization against the #WTO in Seattle, we recall the black bloc marching against the Free Trade Area of the Americas ministerial in #Quebec City in April 2001, or the riots at the G8 summit in #Genoa the following July.

https://de.crimethinc.com/2021/11/30/epilogue-on-the-movement-against-capitalist-globalization-22-years-after-n30-what-it-can-teach-us-today #usa #history #mexico #ezln #uk #chiapas #who #yesmen #hamburg #g20 #ferguson #baltimore #war

Epilogue on the Movement against Capitalist Globalization

22 years after the victory against the World Trade Organization in Seattle, what can we learn from the networks that gave rise to that movement?

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geekwire_unofficial@joindiaspora.com
geekwire_unofficial

How is the ‘snowiest place on Earth’ faring in this record-hot summer? It’s gotten a little rocky

A view of the Emmons Glacier at Mount Rainier this summer.

(Photo by Kevin Lisota)

Washington’s Mount Rainier is either the snowiest place on Earth, or a close runner up. From records collected over the past century, the average annual snowfall at Rainier’s Paradise area is nearly 640 inches, or more than 53 feet.

But this summer’s record-setting heat triggered a rapid snow melt that has left the picturesque peak looking a bit dingy and gray. The conditions have prompted the National Park Service to issue a warning to visitors to keep their eyes and ears peeled for mud and boulder-laden debris flows fueled by melting snow that can suddenly surge into valleys.

Dr. Samuel Browd, a pediatric neurosurgeon in Seattle who works for Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington, tweeted a photo of a scruffy Rainier taken from an airplane window during a recent flight.

Flying past Mt. Rainier last night. Striking the reduction in snowpack and glaciers.

[

#ClimateEmergency

](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClimateEmergency?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

is real. Will again be in the high 90s in

[

#Seattle

](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Seattle?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

this week. Worry about the future we leave to our kids.

[

@GovInslee

](https://twitter.com/GovInslee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

[

@climatepledge

](https://twitter.com/climatepledge?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

[

@elonmusk

](https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

[

@JeffBezos

](https://twitter.com/JeffBezos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

[

@BillGates

](https://twitter.com/BillGates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

[

pic.twitter.com/TIPhjnfxGt

](https://t.co/TIPhjnfxGt)

— Dr. Samuel Browd (@DrBrowd)

[

August 10, 2021

](https://twitter.com/DrBrowd/status/1425083951303905289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

He has a point. The more than two-dozen glaciers that keep Rainier snowcapped year-round have shrunk dramatically over past decades. International scientists recently issued dire warnings that hotter temperatures will stretch into the foreseeable future and require bold actions to cut carbon emissions if we want to curb the trend. Members of the U.S. Congress are currently negotiating a key spending plan that includes critical climate provisions.

Rainier’s glaciers are just one of the visible signs of the warming. Each year, the glaciers are covered by winter snowfall. In the spring and summer, some of that snow melts, but at higher elevations more survives and is covered by new snow. As the cycle repeats, glaciers are formed. But they’re not fixed features. Scientists describe glaciers moving like a conveyor belt, sliding slowly down the mountain, losing snow at the lower elevations and building the glacier higher up.

The snowfall at Mount Rainier was off to a good start in the winter and spring with above average levels recorded at Paradise. Then June happened. (NOAA Image)

With ever warmer temperatures, the process that adds and subtracts snow from glaciers worldwide has tilted too far into the red.

On Rainier, the glaciers cover one-third less area and their thickness has dropped by 45% since 1900, said Mount Rainier National Park geologist Scott Beason in a recent news story.

Yet this winter held so much promise. The volcanic peak received above-average snowfall starting in January and lasting into early summer. Then in late June, the record-breaking heat dome hit, roasting the Pacific Northwest.

“What was unusual about that heat wave is it was really hot and it was really hot across a range of altitudes or elevations,” said David Shean, a UW assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering.

For several days, or perhaps even weeks, the freezing level hovered at 18,000 feet — well above the top of Rainier at 14,411 feet, Shean said. The snow began to rapidly melt, pouring down the mountain.

“The glacier has no choice but to retreat to higher elevations where it’s colder,” Shean said.

And that creates other potential problems. As the glaciers recede, they expose loose rocks and boulders at their base.

“That stuff is ripe for being part of a debris flow,” said Weston Thelen, a geophysicist and seismologist with the Cascades Volcano Observatory. “The added ingredient is water.”

The water sometimes comes from what’s called a “glacial outburst flood,” which is a sudden, large gush of water is released from a glacier, possibly triggering a debris flow.

A debris flow in the Tahoma Creek drainage in 2019 deposited up to 5 feet of debris behind these logs carried by the flow. This image of the old Tahoma Creek Trailhead also shows a newly carved channel on the left. (National Park Service Photo / Taylor Kenyon)

These events aren’t super common. The Tahoma Creek drainage on the southwest side of Rainier is the most frequent site for debris flows on the mountain, racking up at least 32 events since 1967. Two years, a debris flow in the drainage carried a flood of rocks and sediment and led to a road closure in the area.

Signs that a flow is coming include a rapid change in water levels of streams and rivers, shaking ground and a loud roaring sound. People are advised to flee to higher ground at least 200 feet above the bottom of a valley. The National Park last week tweeted a reminder to visitors to watch out for flows during the most recent stretch of high temperatures.

“Are [debris flows] more common because of climate change? I can’t say that for sure,” Thelen said. “I can say the materials, the loose rock at the bottom of the glacier, is more exposed than it was 30 years ago, 100 years ago. That part of the equation is there.”

Researchers recently began installing an update of the Mount Rainier Lahar Detection System, a suite of monitors for detecting more massive, dangerous and rare volcanic mudflows called lahars. Because lahars occur only every few hundred years, the more frequent debris flows will be useful for fine-tuning and calibrating the system. Thelen, in fact, is hoping to catch a flow before early September when he’ll need to remove some of his seismometers and microphones before the snow returns.

At 5,120 feet above sea level, Paradise on Mount Rainier reached 90 degrees this summer, and multiple days above 80 degrees. (NOAA Image)

And the snow will be back. While climate change is warming the world, it’s also altering precipitation patterns, creating heavier rain and snowfall in places. It’s possible that shifting weather patterns could increase Rainier’s snow, but it could also result in heavier rainstorms that wash away snow and ice.

Even as the planet heats up, skyward-reaching Mount Rainier should be able to hold on to many of its glaciers for some time, despite the shrinkage. The outlook for lower elevation glaciers in the Cascade and Olympic mountains is less hopeful.

“Of the glaciers we have in the lower 48, Mount Rainier is in pretty good shape,” Shean said. “The glaciers will retreat, but they won’t disappear any time soon.”
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