Washington architecture news, Seattle buildings images, WA architects offices, Modern American property designs
Key United States of America properties + architectural developments in WA. Modern built environment design USA.
post updated December 19, 2025
December 19, 2025
Doe Bay Retreat, Orcas Island, Washington
Architect: Heliotrope Architects
Designed for a retired couple and realized within a modest budget, this island retreat is perched on a narrow, rocky knoll within a rare grove of old-growth trees. A straightforward gabled form, constructed with prefabricated trusses, serves as both an economical strategy and a means of creating generous spatial volume and visual interest. At 1,450 square feet, the part-time residence is intentionally minimalist and contemporary, allowing the owners to easily maintain the home and secure it when away.
The ridge-top site offers layered views in all directions: filtered water views to the south, a wooded valley to the north, a Douglas fir grove to the west, and vehicular access from the east.
The gable is split into two volumes, orienting glassy gable ends toward the distant northern and southern views, with the entry positioned at their junction. The site’s subtly bent geometry is leveraged to create a small courtyard and vehicle turn-around, while a linear storage shed screens cars from people and establishes a layered, ceremonial arrival sequence.
Inside, a simple plan organizes public and private spaces on either side of the entry. Living, dining, and kitchen areas occupy the south end of the house and open onto a large cantilevered deck that projects into the old-growth canopy, framing views of Rosario Strait. Private spaces are located to the north, including the primary suite, which opens directly onto the rocky knoll.
A restrained material and color palette keeps the interiors visually quiet, allowing the owners’ art collection and the surrounding landscape to take center stage. As the architect notes, the clients sought calm, understated interiors that would showcase their artwork.
Despite its compact size, the home feels expansive through the use of tall volumes and generous openings. Full-height glazing at the gable ends amplifies this sense of space, while a rhythmic series of double-hung windows along the east and west walls brings light deep into the interior and breaks down the linearity of the plan, particularly along the hallway.
Finished in a limited palette of black, white, and dark weathered wood, the house reflects both the owners’ tastes and the project’s budgetary discipline. Large windows and a clean, uncomplicated design create a serene retreat—an ideal island getaway, precisely as envisioned by its owners.
Heliotrope design team:
Joe Herrin, AIA (Principal)
Tony Salas (Project Manager)
Consultant team:
Architecture: Heliotrope Architects
Contractor: Bluebird Builders
Structural Engineer: Swenson Say Faget
Geotechnical Engineer: Stratum Group
Photographer: Andrew Pogue
Materials/Products:
1. Cherry Creek wood windows & doors
2. Marvin clad wood windows
3. Smith & Vallie cabinetry
4. Kebony decking
5. Northern Wide Plank oak flooring
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For the latest built environment updates in the major city in this state visit Seattle Architecture News
November 25, 2025
Washington School for the Deaf – WSD, 611 Grand Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661
Architects: Mithun
photo : Lara Swimmer
October 11, 2025
Lopez Lookout, Lopez Island
Architects: Heliotrope
photo : Taj Howe
August 19, 2025
Peach Court House
Architecture and Interiors: Wittman Estes
photo : Rafael Soldi
July 25, 2025
Whidbey Puzzle Prefab, Whidbey Island, Washington State, USA
Design: Wittman Estes
photo : Andrew Pogue
Defined by flexibility, Puzzle Prefab took on the challenge to build dwellings that minimize environmental impact, while fostering health and connection to nature for the inhabitants. A quarter of the size of the typical 2,000-square-foot American home, the prototype includes 600 square feet of living space attached to 557 square feet of covered outdoor space with cedar decks and soffits.
July 25, 2025
University of Washington Anderson Hall Renovations
Design: Hennebery Eddy
July 18, 2025
Discovery Bay House, Port Townsend, Washington, United States of America
Design: Dekleva Gregoric Architects
July 14, 2025
Blatto Boat, Seattle, Washington houseboat
Architecture and Interiors: GO’C
June 17, 2025
Giddens and Lake Washington Girls Middle School
Architecture and Interiors: Anjali Grant design
June 10, 2025
In-Kind House in Seattle, Washington property
Whidbey Uparati Retreat
photo : Andrew Pogue
April 2, 2025
Alden Mason House, Washington, USA
New Seattle Houses
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Washington Architecture News Winter 2025
Washington Architecture News – latest additions to this page, arranged chronologically:
February 18, 2025
Colman Park House
January 27, 2025
Hilite Mixed-Use Apartments, Seattle
Architecture: Studio19 Architects
photo : Studio19 Architects
January 20, 2025
LeBron James Innovation Center, Beaverton, Seattle
Architects: Olson Kundig
photo courtesy of Nike
January 5, 2025
Vitus housing office, Belltown
Architecture: Graham Baba Architects
photo : Ross Eckert
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Washington Architecture News 2024
Washington Architecture News 2024, chronological:
October 15, 2024
Texas Modern House, Washington State, Pacific Northwest
Architect: smpl Design Studio
photo : Taras Ivantskii
smpl Design Studio’s first foray into the Pacific Northwest is characterized by numerous horizontal lines and dramatic roof overhangs. This project reflects their clients’ past, present, and future experiences, combined with the highly desirable location.
October 8, 2024
Griffin Bay House, Washington State, San Juan Island, WA
Architect: Prentiss + Balance + Wickline
photo : Taj Howe Photography
This Washington State property near Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, is a beautiful example of how thoughtful design can enhance the connection between a home and its natural surroundings. The owner approached PBW with a vision to strengthen this relationship while reconfiguring the interior spaces to better suit their lifestyle.
October 7, 2024
Wake Robin House, Washington State
Architect: Prentiss + Balance + Wickline
photo : Andrew Pogue Photography
This residence is deeply informed by its surroundings, taking full advantage of an open meadow encircled by mature evergreen trees. The home is carefully positioned at the northern edge of the meadow, allowing for abundant southern light to flood the pavilion-style main living space, creating a warm, inviting environment.
October 4, 2024
San Juan Islands Boathouse, Washington State
Architect: Prentiss + Balance + Wickline
photo : Andrew Pogue Photography
Located in the San Juan Islands, the Boathouse stands foremost as a threshold between water and land, an idea it embraces literally by providing upland access to those arriving by boat or seaplane, and figuratively through its location and form. It straddles the elements, providing an entryway as well as a dramatic spot for a morning cup of coffee or a crab boil with the extended family.
September 26, 2024
Orcas House, San Juan Islands, Washington State
Architect: Allied8
photo : Rafael Soldi
This new Washington State property is a modern linear home, cantilevered off a cliff exposed to stunning views to the north and south. The aging Kebony on the exterior blends in with the bark of the trees onsite, and the bright interior is open, monochromatic and modern.
September 21, 2024
Matt’s Place ALS Home, Spokane, WA
Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership
photo : Patrick Martinez/courtesy Miller Hull
The Miller Hull Partnership has partnered with Matt’s Place Foundation to create a home designed specifically for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients. This prefabricated, modular, mass timber prototype addresses the unique challenges of ALS patients and their families.
August 27, 2024
Whidbey Uparati House, Whidbey Island
Architect: Wittman Estes
photo : Wittman Estes
Floating above a meadow, Whidbey Uparati seeks to minimize visual and physical impact on the natural landscape by blending into the site rather than asserting itself upon it. Upon approach, the meadow vegetation and flowering trees surround a winding path up a steady slope to the house.
August 24, 2024
Yarrow Point House, Yarrow Point
Architect: Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects
photo : Reagen Taylor
Nestled in the heart of Yarrow Point, Washington, lies a stunning architectural marvel that redefines the concept of modern living. The Yarrow Point House, designed by renowned architects Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects, is a testament to innovative design and precise engineering.
August 22, 2024
Tinyleaf Cabin, Mazama
Architect: GO’C
photo : Ben Lindbloom
A small outpost is bermed into a steep slope site with mountain bike and cross-country ski access for an outdoor enthusiast. Located in Mazama, WA, the site for this small cabin lies in the heart of the Methow Valley.
August 23, 2024
Bramblewood House, Puget Sound
Architect: Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects
photo : Taj Howe Photography
To arrive at the Bramblewood House, a gravel road first takes you through a densely wooded forest of old growth fir and cedar; the topography of the site is variegated and steeply sloped, with areas of visible bedrock among clearings in the trees.
July 19, 2024
Snow Peak Long Beach Campfield, Long Beach, Pacific County
Architecture: EFA Architect
photo : Arthur Hitchcock
EFA Architect, located in Long Beach, Washington, is proud to announce the completion of the highly anticipated Snow Peak Long Beach Campfield. The locally based, family-owned firm was tasked with facilitating and overseeing all efforts surrounding Snow Peak Long Beach Campfield starting in 2020, from wetland mitigation, program development and architectural design to construction execution, with the property’s grand opening in June 2024.
July 18, 2024
Union Bay Residence, Seattle
Architecture: Silk Cavassa Marchetti
July 9, 2024
Wildflower Home, Methow Valley
Architect: Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects
photo : Andrew Pogue Photography
As construction begins on a pristine site, it can be painful to watch the earthwork. Carpets of native grasses and flowers are ripped up and certain trees inevitably must be removed to make way for a new house.
May 31, 2024
Buoy Bay A – Frame, Orcas Island
Design: Heliotrope Architects
photo : Sean Airhart
Boat trips to the San Juan Islands were the highlight of Heliotrope principal Joe Herrin’s summers as a child. Through these trips he developed a love of boating and a deep connection to the San Juans-one that eventually led he and his wife Belinda to purchase a modest beach cabin on Orcas Island, months after the birth of their first daughter.
May 17, 2024
Chewuch River Cabin, Winthrop
Architect: Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects
photo © Eirik Johnson
Perched atop a steep river bank, the Chewuch Cabin offers equal amounts of shelter from and exposure to north-central Washington’s rugged beauty. A high, linear roof gestures emphatically toward the river and foothills beyond.
May 26, 2024
Wallingford House, Seattle
Architecture: Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects
April 29, 2024
The Rambler House, Kitsap Peninsula
Architecture: GO’C
March 19, 2024
Bainbridge House Seattle
Architecture: FINNE Architects
March 4, 2024
Outward Bound on Orcas Island
Design: Heliotrope Architects
photo : Sean Airhart
Heliotrope was engaged to re-imagine an existing home situated on a remote Orcas Island property with unique, panoramic views
February 12, 2024
The Buxton Center for Bainbridge Performing Arts, Washington, North Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
Architecture: LMN Architects
photo : Lara Swimmer
January 14, 2024
Rookery House, Washington State property, Port Townsend
Design: StudioSTL
January 5, 2024
Courtyard House
Architecture: DeForest Architects PLLC
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Washington Architecture News 2023
Washington Architecture News in 2023
August 19, 2023
West Bar, Eastern Washington State, by the Columbia River
Design: ONOMA ARCHITECTURE with Delta Architects
rendering : Notion workshop
Perched above the landscape along the Columbia River, the owner of this 9-lot development community was searching for a design approach that would attract outdoor-adventure seekers. The property design needed unparalleled comfort and luxury for their custom residential portfolio.
8 August 2023
Bothell Fire Stations 42 and 45, Bothell, WA
Architects: The Miller Hull Partnership
photo : Ben Benschneider Photography
July 25, 2023
6Acres Residence, Redmond
Design: Kor Architects
rendering : 3DQ
The 6Acres building embodies contemporary Northwest architecture through its reverence for its surroundings, embrace of naturally elegant materials, and clean structural expression. This 18,194-sqft home is located on an extraordinary estate with several existing traditional-style buildings.
April 10, 2023
The Buxton Center for Bainbridge Performing Arts, 200 Madison Avenue North, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
Design: LMN Architects
photo : Adam Hunter/LMN Architects
The expansion and renovation of this beloved community theater in Bainbridge Island inaugurates a new era for performers and the arts community on the island.
Apr 4, 2023
Swift Cabin, Cougar
Architects: Ment Architecture LLC
photo : Adam Lawler
The off-grid linear cabin design overlooks a reservoir in southwest Washington. A vast array of solar panels power the home, a custom-designed sauna building, and a garage for the family boat.
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Dec 21, 2022
The Society Hotel, Bingen
Architecture: Waechter Architecture
photo : Lara Swimmer
The hotel building in Bingen, Washington confronts conflicting contextual drivers, responding with a singular organization. Located in the Columbia River Gorge – a National Scenic Area – the site is near the waterfront.
Sep 6, 2022
Cougar Baseball Complex, Washington State University, Pullman
Architects: SRG Partnership, Inc.
photos : Dan Cronin, Lincoln Barbour Studio
Mar 3, 2022
Woodinville Whiskey, Quincy, Washington
Design: Graham Baba Architects
photo © Kristian Alveo
This property is set on a 10-acre site amidst the fields of grain used to produce the company’s whiskey in Quincy, Washington. Woodinville Whiskey needed a larger distillery facility to process and age its whiskey due to increasing demand.
More Contemporary Washington Architecture News online at e-architect soon.
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Washington Architecture News 2021
Nov 2, 2021
Lakeview Office Building in Kirkland Building
Design: LMN Architects
photo © Adam Hunter/LMN Architects
The 46,000 sqft building is the first large-scale mass timber office development East Of Greater Seattle. The commercial property is sited on a prominent triangular site at the gateway to Kirkland.
Oct 26, 2021
Eastern Washington University Interdisciplinary Science Center, Cheney, WA
Design: LMN Architects
photo : Adam Hunter/LMN Architects
This new building at the centre of the campus is characterized by porous, transparent, and vibrant social spaces. These support a good range of teaching laboratories that put science on display.
Oct 15, 2021
Fruit & Produce Co Headquarters in Washington
Oct 6, 2021
Sound Transit U District Station Seattle, WA
Design: LMN Architects
photo : Adam Hunter / LMN Architects
Jul 17, 2021
Lone Madrone House Orcas Island WA
Design: Heliotrope Architects
photograph : Sean Airhart
Lone Madrone is low-impact home sited on a rocky, wind-swept south facing shoreline. This retreat home for a family four nestles into the landscape to harmonize with its surroundings and minimize exposure to weather.
Jul 12, 2021
Collector’s Retreat Orcas Island WA
Design: Heliotrope Architects
photograph : Sean Airhart
The clients for this property own and operate a Los Angeles area retail gallery featuring a curated collection of west-coast artists. They desired a retreat with the feel of a contemporary art gallery.
Apr 30, 2021
Kirkland Mid Century Modern
Design: CTA Design Builders
photograph : Michael Cole
The Kirkland Mid Century Modern is a vintage rambler, sits in a 1960’s builder’s subdivision, and had not been touched. Over the years, nearby homes had been torn down and replaced with big box houses.
Apr 22, 2021
Hans Rosling Center University of Washington, Seattle
Washington Buildings Designs
More Washington Architecture News online soon
Location: Washington State, USA
Seattle Buildings
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Developments in neighbouring States to Washington
Idaho Architecture
Oregon Architecture
Washington DC Architecture
Canadian Architecture
Rem Koolhaas Architect
Washington architects – Tom Kundig : Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen
Comments / photos for the Washington Architecture, USA, page welcome.
