SHED CUSTOMIZES SEATTLE LOFT IN AWARD-WINNING BUILDING

The Seattle-based firm ramps up the storage factor for a loft in the 1310 East Union Building

Completed in 2001, the 1310 East Union Building has quickly become one of Seattle’s cherished architectural fixtures. It was designed by Miller Hull Partnership for local developers Dunn + Hobbes and contains eight open-plan, loft-style condos on a lot that is smaller than most of the city’s single-family plots.

More than a decade after the building’s completion, a young couple living in one of the lofts approached another local firm, SHED Architecture & Design, for a custom remodel. The original layout was not necessarily optimized for everyday living with its lack of storage and its immense hallway. To ameliorate the space, SHED added a variety of functional elements to the existing structure by using a pallet of raw materials, such as concrete brick, mirror and blackened steel, that blended with the native materials.

To subtly mask the entry, SHED extended the kitchen with concrete bricks and a stainless steel plate counter top. This not only enlarged the kitchen work space but also generated ample space for storage. Steel base board under the stairs was replaced by a space to store bikes and SHED also designed a lightweight enclosure of perforated steel for more storage without constricting the open layout.

Finally, a translucent 3Form wall panel turns the upper loft level was turned into a guest room and even more storage, completing a successful renovation that adds without subtracting.