- Project: Contemporary Industrial House
- Architect: Replinger Hossner Osolin Architects
- Location: United States, Seward Park, Seattle, Washington
- Year: 2005
- Area: 465 m2
- Photography: Aaron Leitz, Elizabeth Lockhart, Christopher Osolin
Reimagining Industrial Living: The Fusion of Form, Function, and Hobby
In the heart of Seattle’s historic Seward Park neighborhood, Replinger Hossner Osolin Architects (RHO Architects) have crafted a distinctive residential project that challenges the boundary between domestic comfort and industrial functionality. The Contemporary Industrial House is not just a dwelling—it’s a live-in creative sanctuary for an “uber-hobbyist,” seamlessly combining a private residence with a fully equipped metalworking studio.
This bold architectural solution embraces raw materials, expressive structural elements, and a spatial layout tailored to support creative pursuits. Wrapped in a modest masonry exterior that respects the neighborhood context, the home conceals a dramatic and unexpected interior that unfolds through steel, concrete, and sunlight.
Industrial Architecture Meets Residential Purpose
The centerpiece of the home is a double-height central workspace, flooded with natural light through expansive skylights and industrial-style windows. Designed with versatility in mind, this space accommodates a wide range of metalworking activities while remaining visually connected to the surrounding living quarters. The result is a dynamic interior where living, working, and creating coexist effortlessly.
The architectural language is unapologetically industrial: exposed steel beams, architectural concrete, and structural precision drive the design narrative. Yet the home maintains a sense of warmth and purpose, softened by custom furniture and curated spatial transitions.
Loft-Like Living Wrapped Around Creativity
Unlike traditional homes, the living spaces in this house are secondary to the workspace. The loft-like residence wraps around the workshop volume, allowing residents to look down into the creative hub from multiple vantage points. This arrangement fosters a continuous connection between creativity and daily life.
Maryika Byskinewicz Spaces designed the interiors with an equally bold and bespoke approach. One standout detail includes a bookshelf-integrated workstation where cast resin tabletop material flows into the shelving unit. Other pieces, like the dining table constructed using true lugged bicycle frame techniques, speak to the client’s unique passions and the home’s functional aesthetic.
Architectural Balance: Expression and Context
Despite its industrial DNA, the house is respectful of its surrounding residential scale. It “bunkers” into the site, with one workshop space built entirely underground. This not only enhances privacy and acoustic control but also provides grade-level access to the workshop from the street, while preserving a tranquil garden retreat at the rear of the home.
Externally, the muted brick and masonry finish keeps the structure discreet and respectful. Internally, expressive steel elements and concrete textures define the tone, resulting in a residence that’s both practical and poetic.
Site-Specific Art and Personal Identity
A major highlight of the project is the inclusion of a site-specific art installation initiated by the client. This integration of art into the architectural fabric reinforces the concept of the home as a creative incubator—one where personal identity and environment are tightly interwoven.
Key Features of the Contemporary Industrial House
- Double-height central workspace with skylights
- Loft-style living spaces wrapping around workshop
- Raw steel structural elements and architectural concrete
- Custom-designed furniture with artisanal construction
- Below-grade workshop for on-street access
- Private garden with upper-level access
- Discreet exterior expression in masonry and brick
Architectural Harmony in Seattle’s Seward Park
This project by RHO Architects proves that a home can be both a place of respite and relentless productivity. It challenges the norms of suburban architecture by putting the creative process at the core of residential life. With interiors by Maryika Byskinewicz Spaces and landscaping by GCH, the Contemporary Industrial House stands as a landmark of adaptive living in a dense, historic neighborhood.
