Easily the most challenging property Heliotrope has encountered, the developable portion of this unique west-facing waterfront property in the San Juan Islands fell within a coastal geological buffer, aquatic wildlife buffer, class II wetland buffer, and is situated less than 100 feet from an active bald eagle nest.
Project name
Lopez Lookout
Architecture firm
Heliotrope Architects
Location
Lopez Island, Washington, USA
Design team
Joe Herrin, Mazohra Thami
Interior design
Heliotrope Architects
Construction
Thomas Fragnoli Construction
Material
Wood, Metal, Glass
Typology
Residential › House
Owners Joe Sundberg, Rachel Johnson, and Patrick Thalasinos have opened their second restaurant on a small neighborhood street in Seattle. Rupee Bar, a follow up to the trio’s well-regarded restaurant Manolin also designed in collaboration with Heliotrope Architects was built entirely by the owners themselves. Inspired by the owners’ journeys to So...
Architecture firm
Heliotrope Architects
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Photography
Noah Forbes, Nate Watters, Aaron Leitz
Collaborators
Construction: Built by Owner
Material
Concrete, Wood, Glass, Steel
Typology
Hospitality, Bar
Situated on a busy neighborhood street, the 3,442-square-foot Fauntleroy residence is designed to redirect the homeowners' experience from the busy world of work and school to family connections.
Project name
Fauntleroy Residence
Architecture firm
Heliotrope Architects
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Principal architect
Mike Mora
Collaborators
Furnishings: Inform Interiors
Landscape
Ohashi Landscape
Construction
Dovetail General Contractors
Material
Concrete, cedar perimeter walls, glass
Typology
Residential › House
The 400-square-foot studio is located behind the Aaron and Kelsi Leitz's residence in West Seattle and serves as a photography studio and office for Aaron, as well as an exercise space for Kelsi, a Pilates instructor.
Project name
Studio Leitz
Architecture firm
Heliotrope Architects
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Construction
Mētis Construction
Material
Clad in kiln-dried, western red cedar (tight-knot cedar boards and clear cedar slats), plaster walls, a concrete floor, plywood casework
Client
Aaron Leitz, Kelsi Leitz
Typology
Commercial › Photography Studio
Approached initially to consult on site-selection, the firm encouraged the clients to focus on features that are unique to the San Juans such as grassy basalt rock outcroppings set within a Douglas fir and pacific madrone forest. The owners later purchased a hillside parcel possessing these features, the rock outcroppings forming a small clearing.
Project name
Buck Mountain Cabin
Architecture firm
Heliotrope Architects
Location
Orcas Island, Washington, USA
Photography
Taj Howe, Sean Airhart
Principal architect
Mike Mora
Collaborators
Space Theory (Cabinetry)
Interior design
Heliotrope Architects
Landscape
Native Landscapes
Construction
Tye Contracting Inc.
Material
Wood, Glass, Metal
Typology
Residential › House
Heliotrope Architects designs Suncrest, an idyllic island retreat on Orcas Island, which is part of the San Juan Islands archipelago that sits in the Salish Sea/Strait of Juan de Fuca between the USA and Canada.
Project name
Suncrest Residence
Architecture firm
Heliotrope Architects
Location
Orcas Island, Washington, USA
Photography
Sean Airhart, Benjamin Benschneider. Video by Juan Benavides/Filmatica
Interior design
Heliotrope Architects with the Owners
Structural engineer
Swenson Say Faget
Lighting
Heliotrope Architects
Material
Concrete, Wood, Glass, Steel and Zinc
Typology
Residential › House
When a young couple approached Heliotrope Architects and asked them to design a home with an art studio inside, all parties sat around the table contributing ideas – some atypical.
Project name
Artist Residence
Architecture firm
Heliotrope Architects
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Photography
Benjamin Benschneider
Principal architect
Mike Mora
Collaborators
Energy Consultant : 360 Analytics; Geotechnical Engineer : Pan Geo Inc
Structural engineer
Swenson Say Faget
Construction
Dovetail General Contractors
Typology
Residential › House
The primary design directive for this home was to capture abundant lake and mountain views afforded by the site, while taking into consideration possible future development with potential to impede the view.
Project name
View Ridge Residence
Architecture firm
Heliotrope Architects
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Photography
Sean Airhart, Haris Kenjar
Structural engineer
Swenson Say Faget
Typology
Residential › House
