DAVID VANDERVORT ARCHITECTS

West Seattle Remodel

davidvandervortarchitects — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:55:03 +0000

West Seattle Remodel

This speculative remodel project with Weitzel Construction sought to update a mid-century modern home in a budget conscious manner. The addition of just 85 sf to the 2,400 sf home allowed an expanded kitchen that is more open to the expansive view. The entry sequence was reconfigured to alleviate the feeling of entering through the carport. This home is currently available for purchase through 360 modern.

Cascade Bay Residence – Orcas Island

davidvandervortarchitects — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:03:37 +0000

This 1,800 square foot residence overlooks Cascade Bay from a high bank property on Orcas Island, Washington. The home is carefully sited amongst existing fir and madrone trees and oriented to minimize site disruption and maximize views. The home includes a detached carport and a semi-detached 500 square foot studio/office structure with roof deck. Permits are approved and the project is ready for construction.

Innis Arden Remodel

davidvandervortarchitects — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:07:14 +0000

The remodel of this 3,600 sf residence built in 1962 focused on the main floor interior. The goal was to open the space up, enhance the spectacular views and create a modern framework for family living. The original entry sequence was unclear and unpleasant being below grade and concealed beneath a dark overhang. A new entry was created to create a more logical sequence from the street to the living space and to add some drama to the exterior via a light scooping shed roof. Other than the entry and turning the carport into a garage the original exterior was left un-touched.

Builder: Weitzel Construction

Wedgewood Remodel

davidvandervortarchitects — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:49:21 +0000

Wedgewood Remodel

This 50′s era home was reconfigured as a modern, Built-Green 3-star residence. Both the exterior and interior were extensively modified with a new addition of 544 sf. This work allowed the home to feel much larger than its 1,850 sf and to be much more light and open to the landscape. This home was a speculative project for Mittendorf Quality Construction.

Mustard Seed Village

davidvandervortarchitects — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:30:49 +0000

Mustard Seed Village

Mustard Seed Village will be constructed on 40 acres on Camano Island. The first phase of the village will consist of a common building with a central gathering space as well as classrooms and living quarters. Plans also include a greenhouse, a barn and additional cottage style housing. The village will be physically designed to both fit into its natural setting and reflect something of the spirit of a seventh century Celtic monastery. There will be a significant focus on sustainable design and stewardship of the land. An orchard and garden will provide a high level of food self-sufficiency for those who are part of this community.

A major component of the village will be the ability to provide students with a fully immersive, accredited academic semester abroad. The curriculum will integrate intellectual and spiritual challenges with the learning opportunities of a rural forest environment and an eco-village community.

harmonics: artistic design in symbiotic relationship with nature

davidvandervortarchitects — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:56:24 +0000

harmonics:

artistic design in symbiotic relationship with nature

‘Harmonics’ is a collaboration on canvas between artist Ann Vandervelde and architect David Vandervort. It is an attempt to read, understand and respond to the land in relation to built form – particularly as this relates to the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Drawings and documents from several actual sites were utilitzed as a framework for exploring this relationship. The painted works are visual tools to address the need for dialogue.

The collaborative technique involved layering image, sketch and paint on canvas. The result is a series of eight, two-foot square canvasses depicting and interpreting the context of the San Juan Islands, the inherent features of the land in relationship to structure and the forms that emerge from listening to the cues present in the landscape. The hope is to bring inspiration and renewed understanding to the complexities of living in harmony with nature.

‘light across time’

Architect: The San Juans can be austere and windblown, or pastoral and serene. These extremes and the forces that have brought this about are illustrated here. How do I create a building that celebrates and also provides protection from these extremes?

Artist: The composition emphasizes shapes, textures, and the quality of light. Originally the lower half was composed of gray gesso and pencil lines to indicate landscape. Handmade papers were added to delineate movement of light as it travels. The upper half is metallic gesso with darker acrylics added to create depth.

‘wind forces’

Artist: This work began as three definitive elongated shapes with detailed emphasis on the middle segment. A cleft was left open in the middle. The positive spaces were for David to define with pencil. The painting evolved as layers were built to accommodate the trees and a sense of wind dynamics.

‘driftwood cairn’

Artist: Gray gesso, acrylic paint, and stabilo pencil diluted with water give a visual impression of solitude along the beach of San Juan Island. Driftwood piles create sculptural relief. The structure is nature itself.

Architect: I see the elemental beauty of this place as it is perfectly composed in nature. This is the inspiration for what is to come. How can we create an intensification of place in order to not lose these qualities?

‘awareness’

Artist: This work typifies the yin and yang of art and site concept. The area of import is the upper right, but the overall composition needed to reflect water, vegetation, land, and trees. The eye of the viewer needed to be drawn back into the circular motion of the lines of the sun while remaining a simple composition.

Architect: This is the beginning of architectures interaction with nature. Underlying this work is a true site analysis drawing created for land on Orcas Island. Orientation to views, direction of sun, and topography of the land are illustrated along with initial thoughts on access and circulation.

‘emerging form’

Artist: The artist’s perspective saw the land from the water – rocks in the foreground, trees to the right, and the midsection was of the ridge above. Texture and color were important to define the terrain. Handmade papers were used to show the potential unity of dwelling and rocks. Top and bottom areas were left for interpretation. A strong central line balances the verticality of the tree form.

Architect: I’m seeking to view the land from different perspectives. In this scene, the view from the water to the structure above was considered. The plan form of the structure, set in the trees and oriented to these view elements is beginning to emerge.

‘connections’

Artist: An aerial perspective of land shaped by the artist becomes architectural pods with an emphasis on views. Handmade papers help shape structures that fit into land like a seamless quilt.

Architect: In Ann’s work I’m seeing the land from above and also in perspective. My drawing is a representation of forms responding to the effects of topography, sun and light on the land as viewed from above in plan. It is also attempting to illustrate connections to near and distant views in perspective.

‘reflection’

Artist: The first is almost the last. This was my first response to the San Juan Islands – color, trees, boulders, land, texture and light. I left top and bottom on the right side blank for David to interpret.

Architect: I could feel, in Ann’s initial studies, the intense beauty of the land – an idealized setting for a structure. The iconic form I created here, for a house in elevation/section, responds to the elements of topography and trees set near the water’s edge.

‘symbiosis’

Artist: The sketch incorporates trees in abundance on the Islands. They always needed to be part of the story. How to respect and incorporate their significant role?

Architect: The architect’s window from the created world back to creation – to the beauty of nature as seen from the structure. This is a place to enjoy, and to experience a heightened sense of beauty in appreciation of the landscape.

This project was made possible by a grant from:

The Whiteley Center, Friday Harbor, WA

Felicita Cottages

davidvandervortarchitects — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:24:30 +0000

Felicita Cottages:

A cottage vacation village located near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The 140 cottages are carefully sited amongst the dense forest and native landscape, connected by walking paths, and with minimized automobile intrusion. The pre-fabricated homes will range in size from 900 sf to 1,600 sf. The project is currently planned to acheive LEED Gold certification.

Leschi Remodel

davidvandervortarchitects — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:09:01 +0000

Leschi Residence Remodel:

2,200 square foot addition to existing 2,750 square foot residence in the Leschi neighborhood of Seattle. Exterior improvements include modifying the dated 1980′s post-modern home toward a timeless modern appearance. Estimated construction start May2011.

Sammamish Residence

davidvandervortarchitects — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:21:04 +0000

Sammamish Residence:

3,400 sf residence on 7 acre Sammamish Plateau property. Includes pond and 1,000 sf detached shop building. Anticipated completeion Summer 2011.

Flowing Lake Residence – Snohomish, WA

davidvandervortarchitects — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 20:02:30 +0000

Flowing Lake Residence:

The small and narrow lot extends dramatically down a steep slope to beautiful Flowing Lake in Snohomish County. Giant fir trees occupy the western half. The eastern half marred by the previous removal of a fire damaged cabin. Our challenge was to create a home for an active, young couple which preserved the trees and the remaining native landscape while extending toward and maximizing views of the lake.

The solution was to create a path to the water alongside which a house was then placed. The path begins at the auto court with its detached garage/office. It then descends past the bedroom wing alongside the giant firs to mid-slope where a glass corridor/entry blurs the line between interior and exterior.

From here the living areas open and cantilever toward the view, its glass façade maximizing both openness to the lake and the limited quantity of light. The upper level Master bedroom with its roof terrace hovers amongst the trees. These lake related portions of the house are all embraced by the wood clad wall providing privacy to the neighbors and focusing attention to the view.

Continuing downslope the house bridges the path to a covered porch, further to a bunkered patio and finally to the lake edge itself with its restored wetland.

The materials of the house are honest and natural. This allows the house to meld with the natural landscape so that by day it is difficult to isolate when viewed from the lake, while at night the home glows reassuringly.

Builder: Dovetail Construction