BATT + LEAR

Jan 2014

Tiny Kitchen for Small Cakes Capitol Hill AWARD: REX AWARD for Kitchen Excellence Description Remodel of a boat-like, early 20th Century, condo kitchen that fits one small person who is dedicated to making tiny 6-inch cakes. Challenge We encountered a small, four-unit condo building with Spanish Colonial architecture that doesnt allow intrusion into existing structures. Limited space existed for the kitchen with nowhere to move or expand. Our entrepreneur client was also on a budget. To keep costs down, we had the challenge of not moving exiting infrastructure like plumbing and lights. Inspiration We were inspired by our clients tiny, artistic cakes that combine beauty and delicious functionality. We were also inspired by boats and their ability to efficiently carve space out of every possible cranny. Solution + Innovation It was clear to us that a boat-like space required boat-like solutions, including storage at every turn like creating a backsplash with storage and a flip-down counter to expand working space. We also built casework around plumbing stacks to create storage in the stud bay between studs. We were also able to allow for more light into the space by creating an open transom between studs. How is it sustainable? We did a wholesale kitchen remodel without moving plumbing or electrical. We reused existing lighting, adding energy efficient LED lights. We also had great appliance choices that were extra small and efficient. We made a commitment to use sustainable forestry products wherever possible. This included FSC Core cabinetry with grain-matched oak, and counter tops were crafted from local Rich-lite resin created by a Boeing engineer and which is also used in skate parks.

Seattle, WA

Jun 2013

Triumph Bar, Lower Queen Anne Photo Credit: Bissel Hazen Description Brothers Jim and Brandon Marsh envisioned Triumph Bar in a spot on Queen Anne where you are at the edge of Seattle Center amid a restaurant desert. Welcoming interplay with the neighborhood, Triumph Bar is part sidewalk cafe, and part intimate enclave offering exquisite small Italian plates and deliciously affordable wines, all showcased in a jewel of a space. Challenge Our biggest challenge was to take an austere, cold, wide open environment and create a sense of intimacy where the neighborhood would want to come and hang out. We needed to make it feel family-friendly while still allowing it to be a bar for grown-ups. Another constant challenge in our work is incorporating affordable sustainability on modest budget Inspiration We wanted to push the bounds of repurposed materials, and overcome the mass of concrete and glass in the new structure. We were able to salvage materials from the 1910 Packard Building and reworked the materials to focus on the meticulously curated wine collection. We envisioned this as a library of sorts. Throughout the project, the owners wanted to incorporate the color yellow. We were inspired by how yellow adds sentimental cheerfulness and has the ability to help create a modern mood without being stark. Solutions + Innovations We reworked reclaimed Packard Building flooring materials to create casework for a wall of wine that is so tall that it slips out of view. Wine storage is not ON the wall, it IS the wall, complete with a built in temperature controlled cabinet. The treatment of wine cabinet is the same as table top materials, creating continuity throughout the space. We finished to look by using a steel library ladder for both functionality and to create the library feel that we wanted. A subtle ceiling change and bulb pendants evoking patio lights, call you into the space. We crated custom booths that are movable, tight, and low-backed so that they dont read like booths. We also created nooks and corners along the windows for an overall feeling of intimate openness. To incorporate the yellow requested by the owner, Batt + Lear designer Jan Kunasangeamporn designed custom wallpaper with whimsical yellow flowers which she tailored to the space. How is it sustainable? We had a focus on affordable sustainability throughout the project, starting from locally-found salvaged materials in the front of the house, to energy efficient appliances at the back of the house. The lighting is an energy efficient design which creates an effect like a glowing ball. We worked directly with the chef to think about how food shapes the equipment and how equipment shapes the food. From there we were able to understand how to lay out the space so that everything, including the water heater and dishwasher, has the consideration of energy and efficiency. It may not be sexy, but installing lower usage equipment is critical to getting the energy haul under control. Read more about Triumph Bar HERE: http://issuu.com/dlistmagazine/docs/dlist_winter13_web_

Seattle, WA

Jun 2011

House with the Common View, Wallingford AWARDS: Best of Wallingford, Built Green Hammer Award Description Artistic, sustainable addition to a small Wallingford bungalow, allowing a growing family to continue to thrive in a neighborhood that they love. Challenge Growing family needed more space but they didnt want to move. They knew that they would have to build up but didnt want to block views or ruin the experience for their neighbors. Because of the size and shape of the lot, there were also permitting and structuring challenges. Inspiration We found inspiration in the family and their commitment to the place, neighborhood, and friends. We wanted to create a house that is not only functional and respectful of the neighbors view, but that actually gives back to the neighborhood. We had to lean in hard for the design process to pull all of that off. Solutions + Innovations We engaged in a meticulous design process that included literal boots on the ground elements like standing on the property with sticks to measure the neighbors view. We not only maintained that view but enhanced it by giving the neighbors a view of green roof gardens on 4 sides of the house. To support that work, we had to rebuild the foundation. As an amenity for the neighborhood at large, we created a rain path that channeled into a living wall and structured rain garden that was adjacent to the sidewalk. How is it sustainable? We salvaged or repurposed all of the materials that we could, including salvaging some painted shingles from house and repurposing them for a tiny play house, which also has a green roof. The old beams from basement became a cabinet in the new bathroom. We also used orchard-salvaged walnut which matched the horizontal grain already existing in the kitchen. We economized on space, saving the footprint on the main floor, and only added 600 feet upstairs to house two bedrooms and one bath. We used casework to create walls, used the stairs for part of the cabinets and built walk-n cabinets, creating adaptable space for long term needs. More adaptable space included a sharable bathroom/wetroom which is functional for both adults and kids. We developed a green roof system, rain gardens, and a green wall along the sidewalk. We took the opportunity to improve the envelope, insulating the outside of the building before re-siding. We also incorporated solar into the design, created the opportunity for natural day-lighting all day on upper level and stairwell, and used resin-based eco materials for counter tops.

Seattle, WA

Sep 2009

Remodel for the Neighbors Judkins Park Project featured on Renovation Nation television show Description House lift and wholesale remodel of a structure that everyone called a teardown. This is one of four homes built in 1908, in an area where townhomes are on the march, and cottages on the way out. Challenge Everything in the house was ruined. On the outside the asbestos siding was crumbling, and the back addition was turning into a nurse log. There were rickety wooden stairs to get down to the back yard, disconnecting the main living space from the yard. Inside, the kitchen floor was extremely weak. Rainwater was sheeting down one wall. Inspiration We loved the history of the house and wanted to preserve the fabric of the neighborhood. The house had great proportion and great structural bones with a box ceiling and beautiful inlaid floor. This was a move that you make from the heart, and heart drove our decisions. Solution + Innovation We honored the spirit of the historic house, but added modern elements that fit the character. We kept the relationship to the street, and the integrity to the other houses in the row. We lifted the house and built a full-height ICF insulated concrete form basement, then set it back down. We built an addition to achieve an interior staircase to connect the upstairs living space with the back yard, which only added 8.5 feet in length to the house. We also created a hydronic heating system in the wood floor making this a low load hydronic house. How is it sustainable? We didnt tear down the house, but instead made the best of what we had to work with. We recycled wood and used forest-salvaged wood for the cabinets. We repurposed a laboratory sink as a bath tub, and made stairs out of Garfield High School bleachers that we salvaged from another project. The overall energy usage is exceptional. We skinned the outside with insulation before installing new siding. We added solar, best in class windows, and LED lighting throughout. The entire 2200 square foot house uses a single 50-gallon water tank, and the house is heated with this one tank.

Seattle, WA