Cycle House was recently designed for two avid bicyclists and their 18 bicycles by Chadbourne + Doss Architects, located in Seattle, Washington. The newly built 2,400 square foot residence is sited at the intersection of two major bike routes in the Mount Baker neighborhood of Seattle. The lot is narrow, but has lake and mountain views to the east. The architects sought to craft an efficient custom residence that uniquely represents the owners’ personality and lifestyle.

Martin and Shelley, a very active couple, wanted a home that would not only have storage and maintenance space for their 18 bicycles, but would also facilitate entertaining, provide cozy nooks for reading and relaxing, and maintain a strong connection to the exterior.

They were very engaged in our design process, even providing us with scent vials meant to evoke sensibilities they wished to experience in their home- cool ocean, woody comfort, industrial, and balanced quiet/calm. They also gave us a metaphor of Iceland, which provided inspiration for a refined industrial, natural, and stark pallet of materials.

The Owners wanted a rugged house that incorporated both industrial and natural materials. The exterior is a composition of dark painted fiber cement siding that provides a neutral background for the natural cedar clad Great Room block. The interior is a contrast of black and white with natural cedar, plaster, and blackened steel accents.

The Main Floor is an open great room with Living, Dining, and Kitchen. Sliding glass doors provide wide openings to the expansive views of the lake and mountains. A Guest Bedroom, Bathroom, Pantry, Deck and Office are also located on this floor.

The Ground Floor houses the Garage, Entry, Bike Shop, and an Exercise Room/Office. The Bike Shop opens on to an enclosed Yard for washing and working on bikes.

The Upper Floor contains the Master Bedroom, Bath, and Laundry Room. A large roof deck is designed for entertaining, sheltered reading, and outdoor sleeping. The stair winds around an illuminated translucent wall.

The house is a backdrop for the natural materials within it and a frame to appreciate the natural environment surrounding it.

Photos: Benjamin Benschneider