2200 s.f. New Residence
Beacon Hill, Seattle, WA
Ray C. Freeman III, Architect/Owner

The site was a 5,000 s.f. parcel in the East Duwamish Green Belt, overlooking Interstate 5. It was declared to be a known slide zone, a potential slide zone, a wetlands, and a wildlife area. Further, there was no water to the site, which was occupied by a small house that had been gutted and turned into a workshop, which the owner/architect was using for a music studio.

Following the demolition of the studio, the site was cleared and excavated to prepare for construction.

Steel pilings, consisting of ten 18" I-beams encased in 24" diameter concrete were placed 48 feet into the ground, and tied back into the hillside with grouted in place cables extending 60 feet to the East.

Atop the pilings, a grid of 24" x 24" grade beams were poured, topped by an insulated 8" structural slab.

The lower level is essentially a daylight basement, and the concrete base walls at that level were enhanced with custom form work designed and executed by the owner/architect.

With the concrete in place, framing began, consisting mostly of conventional framing with a trussed roof, consisting of both standard and scissor trusses. The round "Stargate" section presented some unusual challenges, as it acts as the shear core of the house, but also incorporates the stair and bathrooms.

Two working fireplaces were incorporated, which were functional even before the electrical and plumbing had been completed. These fireplaces are legally part of the house's heating system, per energy code.

Once the plumbing, wiring, and insulation had been completed, we began to close in the exterior, using a number of different siding systems and custom metal flashing and trims included in the unusual design of the house.

Interior finishes and details were very custom as well, incorporating original vacuum-formed "Stargate"-themed wall panels developed by the architect/owner.

Steel decks, fabricated by Seidelhuber Iron & Bronze Works were added to the exterior.

In a change-up of roles, highlighting how well the contractor and owner worked together, an aluminum gang-plank bridge, designed largely by MLWgc and built by the owner, added the finishing touch.

A few overall and interior photos to show how it all turned out after the owner had moved in:

posted 12/01/2025 by Ray C. Freeman III