Luk Residence
This single-family home remodel was driven by the homeowner’s desire to “do the right thing” in the context of a
neighborhood which is witnessing a change of character as the small houses of its quiet past are getting
replaced by large luxury homes. One of the biggest initial challenges was to resist the temptation to increase
the size and height of the house in order to gain even better views – to resist keeping up with the Joneses. The
house already had an expansive view of Puget Sound. The owner also did not want the house to compete with
the land for attention or resources – the house should be humble and respect nature, a metaphor for walking
lightly on the earth.
The site also had its physical challenges – it is classified as an Environmentally Critical Area due to its steep
slope, and there is also an eagle’s nest nearby. Given these site challenges, minimizing the house’s impact on the
site was established as an underlying guiding principle early in the design process. The footprint of the house
was kept intact and the exterior changes were kept to a minimum. Even the deck and landscaping walls (both of
which needed replacement due to failures in the materials) were rebuilt within the same size and footprints. The
landscaping plan includes removing invasives and returning the site to native vegetation.
The original house was built in the 1940’s and had endured various additions over the years. Another
objective was to blend the division between the new remodel, the former remodels, and the original house – to
make the house feel whole again and not a collection of random pieces. The use of salvaged materials and the
reuse of existing materials were high priorities among many sustainable goals that included the conservation of
energy, water, and materials.
Photo by Grace Huang
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