Southeast of Seattle, on Mercer Island, Chadbourne + Doss architects recently completed a reconstruction of an early Fred Bassetti-designed home, dubbed the Wood Block Residence. Bassetti, an iconic Seattle architect, originally designed the home in 1962, but over the ensuing decades, it had fallen into disrepair.

Credit: swipelife.com

Lisa Chadbourne and Darren Doss worked to comprehensively update the home, while simultaneously referring to 92 year old Bassetti for advice regarding historical accuracy. The result is a rectangular, monolithic structure embedded into a hillside on the island’s west side. The street façade employs imposing site-formed concrete, seamed metal panels, and aluminum screens, but once inside, the plan opens to the heavily wooded site. Cedar-lined ceilings and walls reflect the natural surroundings, which are readily visible through floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors that open onto exterior patios. A black and white color scheme and minimalist furnishings complete the interior décor.