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Boat house, beach, and dock

(2) Waterfront lots with existing "summer cabins" replaced with a single residence consisting ground level common spaces, upper level bedrooms, and a large swimming/fitness facility. The existing boat house and dock were retained as they are grandfathered in. ISD provided design for the swimming/fitness facility, vehicle and entry courts, rear patios and walkways down to the beach, bulkhead and waterfront restoration, plantings, irrigation, and lighting.

Landscape Architecture - Lakefront Sammamish Washington

Existing Mid-Century Modern

This was a Victor Steinbrueck designed Mid-Century Modern on the waterfront.
The new owner's program was to completely renovate the interior to meet contemporary standards and character, include a second story addition, and replace the dated and overly mature landscape and all hardscape.
ISD worked closely with the out of state and local architect's, engineers, a highly regarded general contractor, and an excellent landscape contractor to acheive the client's vision. Design elements include sophisticated and very contemporary entry court with concrete plinths, a wrap around perimeter pool separating the vehicle court and front entry, decks, private patios, plantings will bold patterns and character, extensive site lighting, and irrigation.

Mid Century/contemporary waterfront

Union Bay House

Renovation of an existing tudor style residence on a hill overlooking Union Bay in the Laurelhurst neighborhood.  This project require an ada accessible elevator tower incorporated into the garage, and an ada accessible path from the elevator foyer to the front entry at the upper level. The existing stairway was failing and was replaced with a new stairway with lighting, handrails, and mid level landings. The upper level entry court, concrete with a decorative brick border, overlooks Union Bay and whose size accomadates large family gatherings. The plantings are a blend of traditional, in response to the architecture, and contemporary NW per the clients vision

Union Bay Aerie

Suburban estate - naturalistic pool and stream

A highly successful tech sector couple wanted to be close to work, but also be able to decompress and spend quality time their three young children. 
The home was in an area noted for its large lots, 90's architecture set within a densely forested part of the Union Hill community. The architectural elements that they wanted to change was all the interiors, add a swimming pool, and extend decks and patios from the common spaces.
Goals for the exterior spaces included creating a unique entry court leading to the homes grand foyer, provide a professional level canine training area, outdoor dining, naturalistic landscapes, a robust play area, lawn parterres, and perennial beds...all to be connected with flowing serpentine walkways and spaces.



Suburban Redmond Estate

Territorial view looking west

A couple with two teen age children wanted to be close to their high tech work, feel nestled into the Northwest landscape, and maintain their love of outdoor living pared with interiors that reflect their middle eastern origins.
Their home is situated near the top of a ridge with magnificent views of Seattle and the Puget  Sound, winding street with ample openspace, and an established neighborhood. The lot slopes steeply from the rear garden down to the street, mail and recycle elements were difficult to reach, exterior spaces were small and lacked connection to eachother, he driveway was dangerously steep and lacked parking space for current and anticipated vehicles. The overly mature landscape obscured panoramic views.Their home is situated near the top of a ridge with magnificent views of Seattle and the Puget  Sound, winding street with ample openspace, and an established neighborhood. The lot slopes steeply from the rear garden down to the street, mail and recycle elements were difficult to reach, exterior spaces were small and lacked connection to eachother, he driveway was dangerously steep and lacked parking space for current and anticipated vehicles. The overly mature landscape obscured panoramic views.



Hill Top Residence

Aerial view of Enumclaw Estate

A 20 acre parcel began as a vision and was transformed into a spacious estate. The goals were to preserve natural areas, harmonize with the rural pastural landscape, open to the amazing presence of Mount Rainier, and create an family oriented retreat. Entering the estate, one travels along a serpentine forested drive, pauses at a custom ornamental gate, and leaves the forest to be greeted by an amazing panoramic view of Mount Rainier. The vistor contines on a winding loop drive thru meadows, past lawn parterres and orchards, and finally at a parking court leading to the main walkway and residence. Built elements and organically arranged main residence, vehicle courts and walkways, a garage/shop, and the caretakers quarters. Site features include a doubles tennis court, water features, spa, patios, decks, outdoor dining, and decorative fences, pergola's and arbors. The entry walk spans over and thru the main water feature, which replicated the owners favorite landscape of columnar basalt formations in Eastern Washington. Plantings include orchards, vineyard, perennial  borders, lawn parterre's, lawn courts (badminton, volleyball, and a sunken trampoline), and ornamental gardens. Site lighting, sound systems, and automatic irrigation support the garden staff's maintenance of the estate. Environmental features include water harvesting and re-reuse for the irrigation, carefully sited building for solar cells, and careful plant selection to reduce water use.
ISD was the prime design consultant for the entire estate.


Rural Mt. Rainier Estate

Private patios below, decks above facing park

This six unit condominium project lies adjacent to Leschi Park and is perched on a bluff over looking Lake Washington and the marina below. These are two story residences with private entrances and parking below. The main level consists of pedestal set paving, built in and movable planters, several gathering areas, and access to the adjacent park, tennis courts, and marina.  
The landscape character is contemporary, lush, and varied in color, textures, scale, and seasonal interest. 
ISD was responsible for design of all exterior elements, including glazed entry portico's, unit address banners, hardscape, plantings, lighting, and irrigation.
Additionally, we collaborated with the developer-client to select artwork, and assist the artist with siting it, creating spaces that showcased the artwork, and  detailing the support systems. 



Leshi Park Condominiums

Cascading planters and stairway

Contemporary residence perched on a hill overlooking the Issaquah highlands.
The street view is of a cascade of terraces and waterfalls with a series of steps up to the entry level court. The court is separated from the living room and main entry door by a wrap around reflection pool. The rear garden is a contemporary arrangement of low walls, a large grass court, and native species gardens defining the intimate gather space.

Highlands Falling Water

Galley kitchen with pizza oven, grill, cooktop, sink

North Seattle renovation with the vision to create an outdoor cooking/dining space as an extension of the kitchen. Our clients are ardent cooks, love family gathering, and appreciate the NW seasons for being outside in all but the most cold and rainy winter. A number of concepts were explored with the a final design that included grill/cooktop, pizza oven/ prep space, and a bankette. The built elements include custom countertops, wrap around stone wains coating, stainless steel cabinets, hardwood decking and screen walls, soffited ceilings with lighting, elaborate yet elegant post and beam supports of a gabled roof with both solid and a glazed clerestory.
Below is a sophisticated fine woodworking shop entered from a landscape and walkway which terraces down to a private court at the lower level.

Outdoor Kitchen

Entry to "Mews" from public walkway - pergola, piers, and perennials

One square block of townhomes over parking below, terraced gardens, varied paved walks and patios surrounded by wrought iron and stately brick archways. This project also involved the design of a public Gateway plaza, linear park, interior openspace gathering areas paired seamlessly with private entry courts, and gardens screened from public view. 

Urban Center Townhomes

Water's Edge Condominiums

Dramatic transformation from a down at the heels 60’s apartment complex into exclusive condominiums. The street side: pedestrian boulevard shares dramatic water features as backdrop to lush private gardens.
Water side: elevated and at grade garden courts with view of lake Washington, cleverly screening view of adjacent public esplanade with open view of the lake and marina. 

Lake Washington Condominiums

Cristalla street view

An extensive renovation transforms a Belltown historic building to a sleek mixed- use mid rise. The landscape portion involved design from ground level streetscape to green roof, with garden terrace levels in between.
at the roof level, arbors, trellises, and site walls shape space, while amenities such as gathering areas and outdoor fireplaces extend
the living space outdoors. 


Cristalla - Mixed Use in the urban core

Renovated building and landscape

GLU is located at the heart of the Bellefield campus. 
The existing ADA ramp and conifer trees dominated the entry to the building, large scraggly rhododendrons and ivy groundcover did little to establish a character attractive to upcoming high tech companies, and there was little openspace for gathering and recreating typically desired by millenial employees.
Architectural modifications to GLU consisted eliminating the ADA ramp in favor of an at grade lobby with an elevator core serving the second floor office spaces call the "wings". 
The landscape character is "environmental contemporary....geometric patterns, a simple plant pallette, and plantings which will thrive in a wetland environment. Mounded land forms, allee's of trees, and informal hedges screen the parking area as seen from the main entry walkway. Landscape elements included an axial walkway leading to the lobby, a large lawn parterre, a constructed wetland, site signage, site lighting, plantings, decorative bike racks, and bench seating. 


Bellefield  Office Campus

Cascading steps to entry lobby

Great Western Bank is located at the northwestern edge of the Bellefield campus. The existing landscape obscured view from major arterials and did not project the image of an important institution.
The dramatic modifications to the building are consistent with the new architectural genre of the Bellefield campus, and provide a strong and distinctly different character required by Great western Bank. The landscape, including walkways, site lighting, plantings, and site furnishings in concert with the architectural elements have created an imageable and iconic statement consistent with the needs of a financial institution.


Gateway I Office Campus

Housing development site plan

Originally conceived as an engineered storm water control facility, the program was expanded to include a multi-use ecology teaching facility, habitat reserve, and active/ passive recreation area. native plantings were used to highlight regionally characteristic upland, lowland, and wetland environments.
The signature community gathering space for a 400 home housing site, this park it the green gateway to 9 other parks with varied character and uses. Directly adjacent to the future Community Center, Village Green serves as a unstructured child play area (age 3-11) with playful land forms, perimeter plantings that deftly screen vehicular roadways, and provide year round interest through texture, color, scent, and form.

Environmental Oasis - Housing, boulevards, parks

Entry: decorative hardscape, lighting, and contemporary portico

This is an exclusive Bellevue commercial campus with a contemporary landscape aesthetic. The entry is defined by an angular walkway, lighting, and dramatic rthymical  plantings leading up to a sophisticated glass and steel canopy. Sustainable elements include rain gardens, boardwalks over wetlands, and native plantings. 

Gateway II Office Campus

Perennial accents and seating along the public walkway

McCormick Park is a linear public openspace at the east boundary of the City of Bellevue, extending from Hwy 405 to Bellevue Way. As it existing, much of it was lawn, trees, some site art, and a few places to sit. The City wanted an extension of the park that would be low water use, have seasonal interest, include more seating and gathering areas, be a better more varied walking experience, and terminate at a Gateway plaza. The City agreed to ISD's proposal for a serpentine walkway, richly varied plantings and land forms, and small areas + a gateway with seating and decorative planters which would provide an iconic gateway to a rapidly growing community.

Linear Urban Center Park

Courtyard design and artwork selection by ISD

Homeplate Plaza is a successful mixed use project home to King 5 News, restaurants, retail shops, significant and commercial ventures.
Below ground parking is convenient for game events, and the plaza above is a destination for gathering before and after events, for commercial staff as well as  visitors to Seattle. The vision for this project was as a gateway not only to Seattle, but also to the sports complexes adjacent to it. 
The concept is one of slipping planes made up of patterns defined by paving, planters, water features and the "red rods" site sculpture. ISD crafted an international search for artists: the artist selected was one whose work fit into the concept of actual bamboo pared with a metaphor for bamboo as seen at night. ISD was the sole design profession for all exterior spaces including hardscape, landscape, irrigation, lighting, site features and furnishings, and selection and siting of site sculpture.


Homeplate Plaza

Terraced planting beds and paved court

Shorewood is an iconic older condominium development with an 		increasingly diverse resident base. What began as a repair of a court over a parking garage below, evolved in creating new gathering spaces for individual and family gathering, recreation opportunities for children, and overflow for larger community events. The new space adjacent to the community club house incorporated varied paving materials and patterns, curved built-in bench seating, a perimeter of planted terraces, and planters and green screens as a buffer between the gathering space and private residential patios.
 

Club House Gathering Space

Mercer Island Office Building entry and dining courtyard

A commercial icon on Mercer Island receives a modern facelift with vibrant streetscape plantings, rooftop gardens, and entry court. The expanded multi-use courtyard with built-in seating, corten planters, and signature moveable furnishings invites guests to linger over coffee and good conversation. 

Gateway to Mercer Island

North Seattle Residence - front entry

Renovation of entire site. New hardscape, landscape, irrigation, lighting.
Hardscape: concrete vehicle court, walkways, sports court, paver court, trex deck
Walls: corten steel, concrete, unit concrete
Site Features: decorative fences, fire table, bike shed, entry gates, pergola vines
Landscape: native and NW hardy species, cutting garden

North Seattle Residence

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Ray Robinson: becoming a Landscape Architect

From an early age, I explored the wilderness, rural, and urban environments and learned to value nature, knowledge through education, and creativity paired with practicality ......these values still resonate with me today.

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