Preserving Character and Building Community with Urban Infill
Successful infill projects bring new residents and businesses to existing neighborhoods while respecting their character.
Isola Homes is a local urban developer that acquired land on 20th Avenue near the intersection of Madison Street and 23rd Avenue. This is a dynamic area with evolving commercial uses and many new residents. This site presented challenges due to its multiple zones. JW Architects was chosen for this project because of our expertise in connecting zones, and experience with successfully guiding projects through Seattle’s Design Review process.
We looked closely at the neighborhood and its surroundings. Our first design move was to create a 2 story live-work space clad with brick that is a clean and modern version of the adjacent 1920s-era brick building. We chose complementary residential materials to ease the transition to residential zoning.
The Design Review Board embraced our departure from zoning code to bring the residential units closer to the sidewalk to create an active pedestrian experience appropriate for the neighborhood.