CAPITOL HILL LOFT | SHED Architecture & Design

Capitol Hill Loft, located in Seattle’s vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood, is a 1,702-square-foot custom crafted remodel of an urban loft. The award-winning 1310 East Union Building originally designed by the Miller Hull Partnership for Seattle-based developers, Dunn + Hobbes, accommodates eight loft-style condominiums with sweeping views of the Puget Sound and nearby mountains.

The client, a young professional couple, came to the firm with an original layout that did not harmonize with everyday living patterns; an exposed entry way, lack of storage and oversized hallway left no place to hide. The main challenge was to add functional elements to the space that blended with the building’s original palette of concrete floors, zinc plated pan-decking ceiling, and blackened steel beams and railings.

Inserting a mix of texture, raw materials and functional elements, SHED Architecture & Design was able to artfully marry the new additions with the original details of the industrial construction using a palette of concrete brick, stainless steel plate, blackened perforated and sheet steel and mirror. In the kitchen, the counter was extended beyond the original range to create a protected entry way and more generous kitchen space. The brick found in the backsplash and island was chosen for its sympathetic materiality that is forceful enough to blend in with the native steel, while the bold, fine grain Zebra wood cabinetry coincides nicely with the concrete floors without being too ostentatious. The firm worked with long-time partners and project contractors, Dolan Built, to create the refined recessed pull design of the cabinets in Dolan Built’s in-house cabinet shop. The size of the island was carefully mapped out and practical details were added such as a built-in microwave and informal seating for four to subtly flush out the amount of storage required for a functional kitchen; while installing a playful curly cord to connect power to the new island. The geometric wallpaper designed by local designer Brian Paquette, was another unique detail added to lightly blend the kitchen with the large open living space. Inspired by a traditional Japanese pattern book, the design was reproduced on 11x17 paper and applied to the wall using wheat paste to add texture to the exposed main wall.

New mirror detail coupled with the open cabinet above the stainless steel plate counter sheds light into the enclosed entry way. The cabinet also serves as a place for personal belongings, while the bench below creates a space for shoes, “functional elements are things we think about when designing a new space; its a consistent theme in all our projects,” says Thomas Schaer, Principal of SHED Architecture & Design. Under the stairs, the base board was raised and updated with steel plate to create a camouflage storage space for bikes, while the sleek cabinet above was added to display mementos and store other belongings that originally had no home.

Storage was an outstanding issue throughout the home, particularly in the master bedroom. The SHED team created a custom-made lightweight transparent container made with mesh and perforated steel for a more defined closet space while also maintaining the open feel of the original layout. The intention in the newly converted loft upstairs was the opposite; the former open, empty loft space was closed off with a translucent 3Form wall panel and a framed wall to create a guest room. The simple, clean look of the wall additions allows natural light to seep through the large bank windows into the bedroom below, while the mirror detail continues up from the entry to draw a connection between the two floors. The thoughtful mix of raw materials and targeted elements helped solve practical problems without taking away from the original aesthetic of the building, leading to cohesive additions that feel native to the space.