Innis Arden Cliffside Modern
Location: Innis Arden neighborhood of Shoreline, WA
Design Goals: The owners purchased this steeply sloping property in the Innis Arden neighborhood of Shoreline with the goal of replacing the existing home with a modern, high-functioning residence that fully embraces the sweeping Puget Sound views. The approximately 3,000-square-foot home was carefully perched on the hillside, taking full advantage of the site’s natural topography. The design went through the neighborhood design review process to meet view restrictions and ensure the home fit seamlessly within the fabric of the neighborhood. The resulting design features a single-story home with the main floor over a daylight basement that hugs the slope, complemented by a low-slung modern roof that minimizes visual impact and preserves views for neighboring properties, achieving a context-sensitive balance of privacy, aesthetics, and functionality. The main floor serves as the heart of the home, with an open layout connecting the kitchen, living, and dining areas to an outdoor living space through expansive sliding glass doors and large windows. Additional main floor spaces include a guest room, bathroom, mudroom, and attached garage, all designed for accessible, everyday living. The lower floor is laid out with the primary suite, additional bedrooms, a bathroom, and a flexible recreation area that opens to an at-grade covered patio, extending the home’s indoor-outdoor connection. Both levels are oriented to maximize dramatic Puget Sound views, resulting in a modern hillside home that harmonizes with the landscape while providing comfortable, functional living for the family.
The builder of the home created a time lapse video of the construction of the home found here at this link.
Style: Contemporary
Design Challenges + Site Constraints: This Innis Arden property presented a series of significant site and regulatory challenges that shaped the design of the new home. The steep slope and landslide hazard required careful engineering and siting to ensure stability and safety, while the limited buildable area constrained the home’s footprint and placement. The project also faced an intensive neighborhood design review process, as neighbors were invested in preserving their own views and ensuring the new home fit within the character of the community. Height restrictions were strictly enforced to maintain the neighbors’ sightlines, requiring a low-profile design that minimized the visual impact of the house on surrounding properties. Additionally, stormwater management posed a challenge due to the steep topography, necessitating careful planning and design of drainage systems to control runoff and protect the hillside. Balancing these environmental, regulatory, and community considerations required a thoughtful approach to massing, orientation, and site planning to create a safe, functional, and context-sensitive hillside home that maximizes Puget Sound views while respecting the neighborhood and natural site conditions.
Team:
+ Architecture: H2D Architecture + Design
+ Interior Design: Briana Benton
+ Built by: Schenkar Construction
+ Photography: Christopher Nelson Photography