View Ridge Courtyard

Seattle, WA

800sf exterior courtyard

 

This new courtyard of an existing house creates a private entry sequence that is simultaneously a front yard, a grilling & dining area, and a sunken lounge area amidst a lush garden.

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The design includes a sleek steel gate & stucco wall to provide seclusion from the street. Once inside, a steel guardrail leads to the front door of the house while transforming into an entrance canopy as well.

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A stainless-steel 'wind wall' creates privacy from the neighboring property. While a solid wall would have been structurally challenging due to excessive wind force, this wall - made up of suspended metal plates - allows the wind to blow through while still maintaining visual privacy. The plates of the wall also take on a visual reference to the shingle-siding of the existing house.

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The grill sets behind tracked doors to keep it hidden when not in use, and the cocktail ledge at the guardrail makes the deck area suitable for larger gatherings - where the peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range can be seen in the distance.

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The spiral stair leads down past a terraced garden to a sunken lounge area only open to the sky, and equipped with cozy furniture. From this level, this outdoor space takes on a vertical proportion similar to a Mediterranean courtyard house, or 'Riad.'

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Contractor: Chain Co.

Garden Design: Francine M. Day

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