Custom Institutional Architecture

First Church

 

After deciding to sell their home of 100 years on Capitol Hill in Seattle, this inspired congregation asked DeForest Architects to convert a 1926 garage into an urban spiritual oasis in the emerging urban center of South Lake Union. DA worked with the church to transform the brick and timber-frame building into a light-filled place for reflection, connection and community.

 
 
 
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Discovering Values

We engaged the membership with homework assignments and a lively brainstorming workshop. Surprisingly, they brought as many images of gardens as of buildings. It also became clear they valued the feeling of openness to the community that they had with the storefront windows at their temporary location. This led to opening the east wall of the meeting room with a 30 foot wide wall of windows looking into a new garden courtyard.

 
 
 
First Church after
First church before
 
 
 
 
 

 Project Team

DeForest Architects Seattle Studio Lake Tahoe Studio | John DeForest AIA, Brett Smith, Rosie Donovan
Construction | LZL Construction
Structural | BTL Engineering
Lighting Consultant | Studio Lux
Landscape Design | Allworth Design
Categories | Public & Commercial

 

NEXT UP:

Brambles

Starting with a series of brainstorming workshops, DA worked with the project stakeholders to develop a visions for a unique walking golf course in California wine country.

 
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