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Home My WebLink AboutRR-29 2025-08-14 Rathvon Residence Design Analysis w Exhibits A & BM c C L E L L A N | T E L L O N E 3309 WALLINGFORD AVENUE NORTH SEATTLE, WA 98103 PH:206.728.0480 RATHVON RESIDENCE – DESIGN ANALYSIS August 14, 2025 Prepared by: Regan McClellan AIA, McClellan Tellone Precis The Rathvon residence is a modest home of 3,791 square feet situated within a 5.47 acre lot. The home is located outside the shoreline buffer, and no exception was sought to reduce the buffer width. Since the project’s inception, the owner’s expressed goal was to retain the forest integrity on the site, and to pursue a design that left as many trees undisturbed as possible. As a result, the minimum number of trees are impacted and proposed to be removed. After construction is complete the landscape design consists solely of returning any disturbed areas to the native Pacific Northwest species. The home design is thoughtful response to the landscape, views and architectural context of the Pacific Northwest. I have included the attached conceptual renderings to illustrate the design concepts that are incorporated into the Rathvon residence (Exhibit A). The home is designed within the Pacific Northwest vernacular and stands in contrast to the neighboring structures that exhibit little to no consistency in style, form, material or colors. I have included photographs of the neighboring homes as reference (Exhibit B). Architect The Rathvons undertook a thorough search for an architect that was expert in shoreline properties and a leader in Pacific Northwest Modernism. After interviewing and reviewing images of work, the Rathvons chose McClellan Tellone. McClellan Tellone was founded in 1997 and is located in Seattle. Our work is centered in the Northwest, and we are experts in Northwest regional modernism and the unique challenges of waterfront / shoreline projects. To date, the firm has completed design for 32 shoreline home projects and has been published widely in regional and national media that showcase high-end residential design. I am the founder of McClellan Tellone. I was born in the Northwest and received a BA in architecture from the University of Washington. During that period, I received the undergraduate award for architectural history of Nantucket. I continued my education at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and received a Masters in Architecture in 1990. While at Harvard, I was awarded the prestigious Wheelright Scholarship. After graduating I worked with Michael Van Valkenburgh, the chair of the Harvard GSD Landscape School, to deepen my knowledge of the relationship between architecture and landscape design. CA received 08/15/25 EXHIBIT RR29 M c C L E L L A N | T E L L O N E 3309 WALLINGFORD AVENUE NORTH SEATTLE, WA 98103 PH:206.728.0480 Design of the Home The home design is based within the long tradition of Northwest modernism. This was a design movement started in the mid 1930s to establish an authentic expression of the Northwest environment. In the words of one of the founders of the movement, John Yeon, “Regional architecture does not happen simply, automatically, or unself- consciously as it once did. If it happens at all, it results from deliberate aesthetic resistance to ubiquitous popular fashions. It will be done by people and for people who love landscapes and are literate in architecture…It is my belief that significant regional architecture will be an act of will, an act of taste, a response triggered by an appreciation of nature.” The Rathvon home design is a thoughtful response to the landscape environment, topography, disposition of trees and orientation to views. To reduce the disturbance of the site the home is nestled in the slope of the site using the topography to enter the home on the upper level and reduce the home’s apparent size from the road. On the water side the main slope falls away leaving open space to place the daylight basement. Additionally, the design takes advantage of a cross slope to cover the foundation of the Bedroom wing on the upper floor so that a minimum of the home is exposed. In this way the main living areas are elevated above grade on the water side thereby maximizing views without having to remove underbrush or trees. The home is placed at the maximum shoreline setback and exception for the setback distance has not been requested. The home is completely concealed from a person walking on the shoreline and would be difficult to see from the water due to the number of trees in the 160 foot shoreline setback area, the dark colors of the home, and the resulting shade of the tree canopy area. Another technique to reduce the apparent size of the home that we employed was the use of a low slope roof of 1/2”:12 pitch. The roof slopes from waterside back to the road/entry area. This reduces the size of the roof over a steep pitched roof (5:12)by 75%. The low strong horizontal line of the roof eave helps to anchor the home to the site and is a pleasing contrast to the verticality of the fir tree trunks. The color of the metal roof is a rich dark brown which harmonizes with the color of the trunks and forest floor humus. CA received 08/15/25 EXHIBIT RR29 M c C L E L L A N | T E L L O N E 3309 WALLINGFORD AVENUE NORTH SEATTLE, WA 98103 PH:206.728.0480 The home closely follows the precedent of Northwest modernism in the use of wood construction and detailing. Of particular note is the warm honey color of the wood ceiling and exposed beams in the living area and the small vertical wood slats that articulate the entry area and private garden of the bedroom wing. These details and colors harmonize with the surrounding landscape. The exterior colors and materials have been carefully chosen to blend into the forest. The entry side has several materials that offer a contrast of texture and color. The smooth large panels are a warm dark grey to provide a background for the colors of the Sword fern, Red Currant and native perennials that will be planted in that area. The corrugated metal siding is oriented vertically to resonate with the wood slat screens and provide a contrast with the horizontal line of the roof. The metal material is weathering steel that develops a deep bronze rust color over time which blends beautifully with the bark of the Douglas Firs. On the waterfront side the home is composed mostly of glass with a dark bronze frame color. The dark smooth panel siding and weathering steel corrugated metal is repeated on this side. The decks are detailed and structured with a delicate steel framework painted a warm dark bronze. The structure and railings recall the branching of the trees on the site. The two chimneys that anchor the main areas of the home are finished with a hand applied stucco that is a warm tan color that recalls the native sandstone. In summary the design of the home seeks to minimize its apparent size by careful placement in the topography and choice of low slope roof form. The colors, materials, and textures of the exterior are selected to harmonize with the surrounding landscape. The landscape design will solely use native plant species to seamlessly blend the disturbed areas around the home with the existing native flora. The home design is a respectful and authentic architectural expression of the Northwest landscape. CA received 08/15/25 EXHIBIT RR29 Rathvon Residence - 08-14-2025Exhibit A: Rathvon Home - Conceptual Renderings Roadside Facade CA received 08/15/25 EXHIBIT RR29 Rathvon Residence - 08-14-2025Exhibit A: Rathvon Home - Conceptual Renderings Waterside Facade CA received 08/15/25 EXHIBIT RR29 Rathvon Residence - 08-14-2025Exhibit A: Rathvon Home - Conceptual Renderings Waterside Facade CA received 08/15/25 EXHIBIT RR29 Rathvon Residence - 08-14-2025Exhibit B: Neighboring Homes located served by Twana Way CA received 08/15/25 EXHIBIT RR29