BLK_LAB Residence

Growing families in Seattle face mounting challenges: increasing real estate competition, urban densification, and the desire to do more with less. BLK_LAB was designed for a family seeking compact urban living with an indoor-outdoor lifestyle and reduced carbon footprint.

The owners—an EHDD Architecture partner and a clinical neuropsychologist—approached the project collaboratively, evaluating needs and wants against budget realities. Built on the original foundations of a 1953 house, the design creates light-filled, loft-like spaces within a compact urban form, including a flexible ADU unit on the ground floor.

The upper level embraces Pacific Northwest indoor-outdoor living through a series of patios and terraces on the south and east sides that extend and connect adjacent spaces. A central stairwell links all three levels, serving as both a natural ventilation strategy and a conduit for daylight deep into the interior.

The project combines thoughtfully placed windows for passive solar gain with an advanced thermal envelope. Stud cavities are insulated with densely packed cellulose (85% post-consumer recycled content) that allows walls to breathe. Radiant floor heating, operable fiberglass windows, and the central stair create natural air circulation and ventilation.

Locally sourced larch appears extensively throughout: vertical exterior siding fastened with stainless steel nails over a proprietary moisture barrier, interior stair treads, and vertical screens that filter natural light while defining space and providing privacy. These vertical elements allow airflow through multiple building layers, creating a sense of openness and light throughout the year.