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Position: 47°35’04.7″N 122°23’11.4″W
Walking through residential neighbourhoods in the Pacific Northwest is an exercise in exercise and in architectural diversity. Both Seattle and Portland were established at around the same time. Both cities have old neighbourhoods that grew in stages, each stage reflecting the aesthetics and needs of the time. Seattle, of course, grew into a much larger, wealthier city. Here it is possible to find examples of great modernist icons like (students of) Mies van der Rohe and Frank Geary.
Around West Seattle you find elegant craftsman-style homes from the 1920s sitting next to ultra-modern derivations of Bauhaus design. Italianate villas stand next to brick, prairie-style houses. The sheer variety of styles, shapes and sizes keeps any routine walk from becoming boring. As Seattle’s millionaire population grew through the 1990s, the Microsoft dividend, many older homes have been preserved and updated.
Foop
Because these neighbourhoods were built over decades, rather than in one swell foop, maintaining restrictive CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions) on appearance is all but impossible. Rather, renovators generally keep to the spirit of their area and draw inspiration from the patchwork of represented styles. This avoids the monolithic and repetitive suburban design standards found in so many gated communities around the country.
Even so there is the occasional neglected house. Perhaps a parental home absentee children can’t agree what should be done with. The house sits empty and discreetly boarded up while the land continues accruing value. Such places are rare exceptions. Much more common are neat-as-a-pin homes with electric vehicle chargers and double pane windows.
Spectacular
On-street parking is the norm. The effect is to quiet traffic and protect legions of dog walkers doing their rounds. Many streets retain the luxury of alleyways where you can leave your rubbish for weekly collection. The very well off build mansions over two lots, with barely enough room around the perimeter for a terrace.
West Seattle’s geography works in favour of home buyers searching for views. The long ridge running north to south falls off gently on either side, at least until it reaches the bluff. Then it falls precipitously into Puget Sound. You either get spectacular sunrises over the Cascades or fantastic sunsets over the Olympics. It is hard to go wrong.
The business centre has plenty of coffee shops and mid-century brick buildings in between urban renewal projects. Many of the older buildings sport murals. Some highlighting history, some ecology, and some pure whimsy.
Photos
Here are a few pictures to give you a better sense of the area.
