Graham Baba Architects Edgemoor House
Description
Location: Bellingham, Washington Type: Residential Atop a modest rise with sweeping views of Bellingham Bay, this ground-up home was designed for a young family with a deep connection to the outdoors and a passion for food. The clients purchased the site with a modest mid-century house and initially considered a remodel, but were instead able to move the original structure to a nearby lot, where it continues to serve as a home for a new owner. Their vision was to create a new family home anchored by a large kitchen and gathering space, emphasizing year-round indoor-outdoor connection, taking full advantage of the site’s westerly views, and offering flexibility to accommodate extended stays from family. Though modern in form, the house is rich in tactile detail. A finely scaled steel canopy marks the entry, and articulately detailed wood at the covered patio brings warmth to the home’s main gathering spaces. At the heart of the home is a generous, light-filled great room anchored by a chef-grade kitchen. Large sliding glass doors open to a covered patio, creating a multi-season extension of the living space. A nearly 900-square-foot garage—outfitted for both gear storage and a home gym—speaks to the client’s active lifestyle. The program includes three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with expansive glazing, and a guest suite with ensuite bathroom in the basement designed to support long visits from out-of-town family. A separate home office and a den/bonus room are also located downstairs. One of the home’s most noticeable exterior features is the central chimney volume, which organizes the main living spaces while serving a pragmatic role: it houses not only the wood-burning fireplace flue, but also all mechanical exhausts, eliminating the need for additional roof penetrations. On the interior, a large skylight together with an open stair brings ample daylight into the lower-level arrival point and den. The stair includes a custom steel guardrail and a bent steel plate detail that subtly increases head height at the lower landing—making the descent feel more gracious without requiring additional excavation for ceiling height. In close collaboration with Chuckanut Builders, our team incorporated resilient materials and assemblies that will age gracefully into the home. Shou sugi ban siding, a standing seam metal roof, and steel-framed exterior detailing emphasize longevity and reduce maintenance over the home’s lifetime. Triple-pane European windows, continuous exterior insulation, and high air-sealing performance work together to ensure acoustic and thermal comfort despite the site’s proximity to a busy street. A heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system maintains indoor air quality while supporting the home's tightly sealed envelope—a blower door test confirmed the home’s air tightness at near Passive House standards.
Details
Seattle, WA
Architect
Description
Location: Bellingham, Washington Type: Residential Atop a modest rise with sweeping views of Bellingham Bay, this ground-up home was designed for a young family with a deep connection to the outdoors and a passion for food. The clients purchased the site with a modest mid-century house and initially considered a remodel, but were instead able to move the original structure to a nearby lot, where it continues to serve as a home for a new owner. Their vision was to create a new family home anchored by a large kitchen and gathering space, emphasizing year-round indoor-outdoor connection, taking full advantage of the site’s westerly views, and offering flexibility to accommodate extended stays from family. Though modern in form, the house is rich in tactile detail. A finely scaled steel canopy marks the entry, and articulately detailed wood at the covered patio brings warmth to the home’s main gathering spaces. At the heart of the home is a generous, light-filled great room anchored by a chef-grade kitchen. Large sliding glass doors open to a covered patio, creating a multi-season extension of the living space. A nearly 900-square-foot garage—outfitted for both gear storage and a home gym—speaks to the client’s active lifestyle. The program includes three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with expansive glazing, and a guest suite with ensuite bathroom in the basement designed to support long visits from out-of-town family. A separate home office and a den/bonus room are also located downstairs. One of the home’s most noticeable exterior features is the central chimney volume, which organizes the main living spaces while serving a pragmatic role: it houses not only the wood-burning fireplace flue, but also all mechanical exhausts, eliminating the need for additional roof penetrations. On the interior, a large skylight together with an open stair brings ample daylight into the lower-level arrival point and den. The stair includes a custom steel guardrail and a bent steel plate detail that subtly increases head height at the lower landing—making the descent feel more gracious without requiring additional excavation for ceiling height. In close collaboration with Chuckanut Builders, our team incorporated resilient materials and assemblies that will age gracefully into the home. Shou sugi ban siding, a standing seam metal roof, and steel-framed exterior detailing emphasize longevity and reduce maintenance over the home’s lifetime. Triple-pane European windows, continuous exterior insulation, and high air-sealing performance work together to ensure acoustic and thermal comfort despite the site’s proximity to a busy street. A heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system maintains indoor air quality while supporting the home's tightly sealed envelope—a blower door test confirmed the home’s air tightness at near Passive House standards.
Details
Seattle, WA
Architect
