The Elliott Bay House designed by FINNE Architects is located in Seattle on a narrow site facing Puget Sound. The architectural massing of the house has been wrapped around a south-facing courtyard containing a large reflecting pool with two “floating” basalt boulders.

The reflecting pool gathers all the roof drainage from the house, with the downspout from the living room roof providing a 10-ft waterfall. The main living space has sweeping westerly views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The east side of the living space is the courtyard with reflecting pool, providing a sense of intimacy and quiet in contrast to the dramatic views on the west side. The exposed wood beams in the living space change pitch along the length of the room, providing a sense of drama as the roof unfolds toward the view of Puget Sound. Upstairs, the master bedroom cantilevers out dramatically toward the Puget Sound view. Tall glass walls wrap the bedroom on three sides, providing a stunning panorama of water and mountains.
Similar to other FINNE projects, a strong sense of “crafted modernism” is present in the house. A water jet-cut steel fence and gate lead to the house entry. Stainless steel stands elevate the basalt boulders in the reflecting pool so they hover slightly above the water’s surface. Exterior siding is custom stained red cedar with two different patterns and colors. The striking steel and wood stairs have water jet...