Park Home in Ravenna
“Situated in one of the most beloved streets of Seattle, the Candy Cane Lane, the frontage of the house bows to the tradition and is shaped coherently to the historical context of gablescape with low eave height and simple cedar siding. Modernity is hidden in the backside in the form of a glass block wall and an outreaching 3rd-floor volume inserted to overlook Ravenna Park.
Taking advantage of one of the lushest parks in Seattle, the project “borrowed” its scenery in panorama using 648 high-performance glass blocks that flanked the entire park-facing 2nd-floor facade. Diffused daylight through them softly illuminates the contiguous living/dining/kitchen space to create a sense of connection to the park throughout the year, from pink spring cherry blossom to full fall foliage and serene white winter land.
Mostly monotonous to pair with the exposed steel structures, the dark gray kitchen panels reveal a slight blue undertone when the light is just right, jiving with the blue hue of the glass blocks right by the side. In contrast to the dark gray panels, warm wood liners surround the kitchen alcove and form the bar counter, echoing the wood wainscoting around the living room space, calm to the touch. Centrally located in the kitchen peninsula is the sink that allows convenient access from both sides. Or just from the kitchen side with the park view across the glass block wall, making the mundane chore of kitchen cleanup as theatrical as possible. Being in this kitchen is simply a joy.
When “Joy to the World” is being played around town, when Christmas time comes around, friends and family gather at Park Home to cheer and have fun. The joy is then spread through the famous Christmas carousel and the Candy Cane Lane decoration for those who come.”
Architecture and Design - Kejia Zhang and Xiaoxi Jiao
Photography - Lara Swimmer
Cabinets and countertops - @leichtseattle
GC VALOR BUILDS
@parkhome_in_ravenna
