Our remodel/addition project in Bellevue, located on the waterfront of Meydenbauer Bay, presents unique challenges due to its overlap with steep slope and shoreline critical areas. A strategic and quantitative approach is essential to obtain permit approval.

We expanded the usable floor areas on the direction of the best view by adding three "boxes" on the waterfront side of the building. The exterior will feature new wood and fiber cement rain screen systems. The entire interior is redesigned for a better living experience. More images to come.

This client has a unique requirement of accommodating a standard indoor tennis court in his future home, which I took as the genius loci of the design, and devised the large atrium in the center of the building. The other functions of the house, including the kitchen and dining, bedrooms, garage, laundry room etc, all "hang onto" the Atrium space as volumetric additions. The circulations of the house on both levels are organized around the Atrium.

The entire house is a little larger than 6,000 sq. ft. The Atrium max out the 35-ft height limit. The exterior employs high-end fiber cement materials of two contrasty colors - dark grey and white. The interior design utilizes white gypsum walls, black metal trims, and natural timber finishes. The dynamic lighting design conveys a sense of contemporaneity.

We designed this new single family residence in the City of Brier, WA, just to the north of Seattle. This 4,300 square feet house boasts a double-height atrium space that floods the interior with natural light, creating a pleasant atmosphere throughout. Inside you will find a luxury kitchen, an inviting living room, five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a powder room, and a three-car garage.

The design prioritizes natural light, with the northern wing of the house elongated beyond the south wing to maximize the natural light to the master bedroom. The shed roofs sloped at 1-to-12 ratio give the house a contemporary aesthetic.

The exterior materials feature thermally treated wood, matte black metal trims, white Hardie lap siding, and white Hardie 8-foot by 4-foot large boards. To enhance energy efficiency, the entire exterior of the conditioned spaces boasts a 2-inch continuous rigid insulation, while a rain screen system ensures efficient drainage and ventilation behind the cladding materials.

The demolition began in January 2024. The building permit process took only 2 months, with all building permits obtained in February 2024. The house is now under construction.

In Shoreline, our latest townhouse project boasts a five-unit design along a bustling thoroughfare, close to bus stops and the Sound Transit light rail. Considering the winter sun's angle and views across the street, I strategically rotated the building's south-facing façade by 16.3 degrees towards the east. This shift not only amplifies sunlight intake but also enhances privacy, and injecting a dynamic building form.

Each unit provides 1200 to 1300 sq. ft. of conditioned space, featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a powder room. Additionally, a single-car garage provides indoor parking at the ground floor of every unit.

The façade exudes sophistication, blending stagger-patterned high-end fiber cement tiles, sleek metal panels, accents of cedar siding, and crisp white fenestration trims.

This project is work in progress.

To address the upcoming demand for the missing middle housing, we developed the design for this high-end townhouse project nestled within the vibrant City of Shoreline. Boasting nearly 2,200 sf of living area and a spacious 550sf of two-car garage, each unit features a master suite, three bedrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen, an expansive living room, and a versatile bonus room. These townhouses meet the popular demand of the local market.

While the floor plan is optimized for efficiency and comfort, the bespoke façade speaks of the epitome of contemporary architecture, harmoniously blends AEP Span©’s exquisite corrugated metal panels with the timeless allure of Swisspearl© fiber cement tile, and the warm and welcoming thermally-treated timber. The use of materials emphasize durability while providing a boutique ambiance that captivate the viewer’s imagination.

The homeowners can step onto their private balconies on the second and third floors, or ascend to the relaxation on their exclusive rooftop deck. These enchanting outdoor sanctuaries offer boundless opportunities to bask in the beauty of nature, creating the perfect backdrop for memorable gatherings or cherished moments of solitude.

For the subdivision and house design at the beautiful and idyllic Duvall property, we are able to subdivide the lot into 15 smaller lots, each of which occupied by a single family residence. For the house design on Lot 6, the concept provides the following features especially mindful of the regional characters of the Pacific Northwest:

1. Sheltered outdoor space on the ground level. The upper level of the house acts as an umbrella and shield the outdoor space from rain during the long and damp winter.

2. Eaves that protect the large window walls from the rain, yet integrated into the overall massing of the house to create a sculptural form.

3. Sloped roofs that guide water effectively away and reduce the need for maintenance.

4. Facing the window walls toward the west, where the view of the Cherry Valley is unfolded.

All major programs, including two bedroom suites, the kitchen and dining room, and the living room are all placed on the upper floor, which connects to the main entrance on the east. Because this house might one day become a retirement home, this arrangement minimizes its occupants’ need to move up and downstairs. As the terrain drops toward the west, the lower level, which contains the garage, back-of-house functions, and the outdoor terrace are revealed. Therefore the house looks like a rambler from the east and a two-story building from the west.

The exterior of the house is cladded with corten steel, a material that weathers gracefully with the lapse of time. The natural look helps the building to blend into the landscape surrounding. The “softer” interior of the house is made of cedar wall surfaces and oak floors. The dark metal trims and window surrounds supplement the palette with a heavier accent.

The house is about 3,500sf in gross floor area and 2,500 in net floor area.

Our new 1,500sf addition in Bellevue. The scope includes new master suite, garage, foyer/mud room, and converting the existing garage to a family room with vaulted ceiling. The last photo is the existing condition.

The master suite is on the second floor of the addition. A louvered screen provides natural light and view to the space, while maintaining its privacy. The middle portions of the screen sit on tracks so they open up by sliding to the sides. The “frame” around the balcony and second story windows shield that facade from rain during the long raining season.

The building permit application for this project has obtained approval from the City of Bellevue.

A lakeside mansion that we designed in Everett, WA. Totaling 8,000SF, the house has two stories above-grade and a basement. The exterior material composition is mainly consisted of white stucco walls, while the master suite and children bedrooms are highlighted with cedar wood sidings. The main entrance is signified with zinc metal panels. Because the public road is to the north and an apartment building is to the east, the windows facing these directions are screened with wood louvers for privacy. The south-facing double-height great room takes in the splendid view of the lake through storefront-style large glass-pane window walls. The master suite has a balcony facing the lake. A wood-paved deck and an infinity pool on the south side of the house maximize the best indoor-outdoor living experience to the residents. The sloped roofs and vaulted ceilings in the bedrooms spaces provide extraordinary ceiling heights. The project obtained the building permit in April 2022, and the construction began in August of the same year.

I began the design of this 4900sf single family house in Bellevue WA since the end of last year. A courtyard house typology is used for the design. The Great Room, Dining, Kitchen, the Master Suite and In-Law Suite all face the Japanese garden in the center. The garden becomes the focal point of the entire house. This provides a private outdoor space to the client even in the highly populated 98004 residential area.

The client has been highly collaborative after learning the ropes. I strongly recommended them to bring in a GC to play the pre-con role early on, so they did and got multiple bids with a wide range. Eliminating the high bidders while knowing the low bidder is still a highly reliable and respectable builder on the East Side, I worked hand-in-hand with them on value engineering. Instead of expensive materials, the reliable and economic Hardie siding is used on most of the exterior. Cedar siding is used on selectively to bring an organic look to the design. I also reduced the exterior fenestration’s dimensions, and streamlined the structure. The construction cost estimate comes down less than half of the high bid. The client is ready to move forward.

The courtyard house is a proven residential typology by all civilizations stretching from East Asia to Western Europe, including Machiya (町屋), Siheyuan (四合院) and the courtyard houses I’ve visited in France and Spain. It should be considered in the United States as well, especially in densely populated areas.

A 2,000sf single family house remodel in Shoreline, WA. The design centers around the living room which is the focal point of the family life. The walls of the original kitchen and bedroom which occupied the space were removed, as well as the drop-ceiling. We framed a vaulted ceiling with exposed collar ties to enhance the ceiling height and create a more airy and brighter space. Extra light is allowed in by three 2’x4’ skylights. The entry is moved from facing the street to facing the driveway for increased privacy.

The interior design has a touch of the Japandi style, a combination of the Scandinavian functionalism and Japanese rustic minimalism. The engineered wood floor, wood veneered kitchen wall cabinets and the exposed collar tie beams in the living room all speak to the soft and organic nature of the home. All kitchen hardwares and fixtures are accented in brushed nickel. All bathrooms are covered with large cement-style floor and wall tiles, while all fixtures and hardwares are accented in black.

The courtyard space is decked with composite pavers and protected from the weather by a cedar roof. All living spaces — the living room, bedroom quarter, and the garage — all open to the courtyard. The exterior of the living room is cladded in cedar wood sidings, and roofed with a black standing seam metal roof. The bedroom quarter and the garage’s exteriors are cladded in dark-brown Hardie planks.

More photos will be available after the landscaping is finished.

Our architectural upgrade to an existing old house in Renton, WA. Because I have recently been reading Paul Hayden Kirk, the design probably took hint from the so-called “Northwest Modern” style. This is very fitting for the climate we have here in the Pacific NW. Two large patios provide ample amount of covered outdoor spaces. Interior ceilings follow the slope of the roof and make the space grander and brighter. Clerestory windows are created by offsetting two roof planes and fitting the gap with glass. Form follows light.

Meanwhile the materials have been updated to the contemporary palette, with grey Hardie, warm cedar sidings, and matte black metal roof fascia.

The goal is to add value to our client’s investment and refine our design language through the process.

We pay the utmost attention to design quality for projects big and small, including this 950sf DADU conversion in Shoreline, WA. The structure was originally a very tall, single story garage. We designed it into a detached ADU with 3 bedrooms, 1 kitchen and 2 bathrooms. The energy code requires it to be treated as a new construction, therefore the insulation introduced around the entire building envelope. The mezz level presents a “tree house” concept, adding some fun on top of the practicality. It will bring our client extra cash flow as a little but nice rental property.

The design of a major addition to an existing Tudor villa in Duvall, WA. The house is situated on a 4.7-acre parcel with numerous beautiful trees and vegetated landscape, and has been used as an airbnb and wedding venue. The client’s original goal is to add a master suite on top of the existing kitchen for her own use. My solution is to demarcate the site into two programs: a private section on the west and a public section on the east. The private section includes the new master suite, a meditation/tea room, an indoor jacuzzi, and a private zen garden. The public section includes a grand stair that acts as a podium for wedding ceremonies, amphitheater sitting, and an existing barn repurposed as a food and beverage venue.

A 12,000 SF, three-story speculative house. The roof form is inspired by the mountains in the surroundings. The clerestory windows between the walls and ceilings allow in plenty of lights that help to illuminate the interior of the building. The exterior material palette consists of white stucco walls, blacked steel frames, nanawall and wood soffit.

An addition project north of Seattle. The client wanted a new addition on top of the existing garage to provide two bedrooms, an office, and a bathroom, but prefers the addition to be in the same style as the original house, with gable roof etc. So I played with the finish material to give it a Nordic Modern look. The project obtained its building permit in April 2022.

Our recent design for a duplex in Shoreline WA contains two 3B2B units. The first image is my preferred option, and the second is the client’s preferred option. The client prefers this option because it is perceived as “more economic” to build. I agree that given this is an investment property, every penny should be saved if possible. On the other hand, my preferred option, with its criss cross roof and louvre on the side of the stair, is visually more interesting. The point here is for investment properties, or actually for all projects, we need a balance between economics and design. Sometimes some wise choices jointly made by the client and architect will yield a better design with little or minimal cost increase. Way to go! And as always, thanks to my client for giving me this opportunity to work on this project.

Small remodel project for a house in Bellevue. The updates include the master bedroom, master bath, and kitchen.

A three-level, steel and light-gauge construction of 2,500 square feet in total (incld. the basement). Exterior concrete and stone panels anchor the building to the ground, while wood decking provides outdoor space that takes in the view of the forested surroundings.

A 1,700 square feet, two-level house that provides an exclusive and quiet oasis in an urban setting.

With a composition made of three staggering boxes, this 1,900 square feet house takes in the view of the surroundings on the second floor. The stone-cladded chimney also acts a structural support for the cantilevered second level.

A detached ADU in the Seattle suburb, where two existing structures are improved with sloped metal roof decking and wood exterior cladding, and joined into an atrium space, from which a playful tree house soars into the air.