New Townhomes Along Greenwood Avenue
Bitter Lake Townhouses
Nestled on a site with a mature tree canopy, these townhouses form a pedestrian-centric community along a busy arterial.
Completed in 2023, this 33-townhome development responds to the site’s transitional nature while positively contributing to the existing urban fabric along this bustling stretch of Greenwood Avenue North in Seattle’s Bitter Lake neighborhood. The ultimate goal was to create a contextual and inviting community providing a thoughtful and sensitive transition between the hustle of Greenwood Avenue to the east and the single-family zone to the west.
Despite access to transit, the site’s immediate context is automobile-focused. Flanking either side of the project site are apartment complexes with large spans of surface parking, and Greenwood Avenue is a highly-trafficked arterial. To the north, south, and east, 3- or 4-story multifamily structures of larger bulk and size dominate the neighborhood scale.
With a building area of just over 65,000 square feet, our role was to create a contemporary design using durable, attractive, yet affordable materials. Site design played a pivotal role in the design of the project, which prioritized the maintenance and protection of many of the mature trees already on the site while providing quality open space with limited paving.
Transitioning Between Single and Multifamily Housing
Facing a busy arterial and flanked by apartment buildings on two sides, but single-family housing to the back of the site, this new townhome development helps to create a transition between the housing typologies. Bitter Lake Townhouses | Photo courtesy of Pulte Homes.
Transitioning Between Single and Multifamily Housing
Facing a busy arterial and flanked by apartment buildings on two sides, but single-family housing to the back of the site, this new townhome development helps to create a transition between the housing typologies. Bitter Lake Townhouses | Photo courtesy of Pulte Homes.
Several exceptional trees along the property lines dictated building locations and required the buildings to be inset from the property lines. The site design defined the introduction of a new understory of trees, which will grow in to complement the mature tree canopy, provide valuable habitat, and increase coverage. This new understory is further ornamented with shrubs to improve soil conditions and provide seasonal variation and interest.
Setting the building massing back from the road allowed the opportunity to incorporate public-facing patios, which encourage pedestrian interaction and promote safety. Wayfinding through this area uses a layered approach to delineate public and private spaces. The use of planters, bio-retention, steps, and stoops delicately define the public and private realms while maintaining a visual connection, creating a link through the site to the street, and increasing safety conditions along the busy arterial.
Pitched roofs were key to the design. Their application illustrates a repetitive and rhythmic gable-roof pattern along Greenwood Avenue and throughout the development.
The gable roof forms also provide reinforcement of the organic transition between the larger, neighboring apartment buildings and the single-family zone west of the site. Scaled and layered façade openings and balconies add a human scale, and further serve the gentle transition between the site and the future single-family homes on the western portion of the subdivided site.
Each unit is intentionally laid out in order to develop rhythms along the façade, not mirroring along party walls. The consistent rhythm, story, and execution of all the unit entrances around the site are defined by personalized green outdoor spaces to enhance wayfinding for pedestrians and act as special buffers for personal space dedicated to the individual units. All entrances are elevated slightly from the finished grade to create a slight separation between the public and private realms while still maintaining the cohesion necessary for a perceived connection. All interior spaces adjacent to the entrances along Greenwood Avenue are habitable, creating a genuine human connection along the street.
The front door entrances are separated from the vehicle entrances to increase wayfinding logic, safety, and security. A strategic paving design offers a pedestrian-friendly zone and areas of refuge along the central drive court. Overhead catenary lighting and specific paving define the zone. The space, while intended for vehicles, is structured to be pedestrian-friendly and safe while tying the pedestrian pathways with the vehicular pathways.
Designing for the Unit and the Whole
Rather than mirroring along party walls, each townhouse unit is laid out to create a rhythm across the buildings’ façades. Bitter Lake Townhouses | Photo courtesy of Pulte Homes.
Designing for the Unit and the Whole
Rather than mirroring along party walls, each townhouse unit is laid out to create a rhythm across the buildings’ façades. Bitter Lake Townhouses | Photo courtesy of Pulte Homes.
Creating a Buffer Between Public and Private
As the landscaping grows in, the personalized green spaces will help with wayfinding and will provide additional buffer between public and private spaces. Bitter Lake Townhouses | Photo courtesy of Pulte Homes.
Creating a Buffer Between Public and Private
As the landscaping grows in, the personalized green spaces will help with wayfinding and will provide additional buffer between public and private spaces. Bitter Lake Townhouses | Photo courtesy of Pulte Homes.
Additional Housing Types
With apartment buildings to the north and south, and single-family homes to the west, these new townhomes increase housing diversity in the neighborhood. Bitter Lake Townhouses | Photo courtesy of Pulte Homes.
Additional Housing Types
With apartment buildings to the north and south, and single-family homes to the west, these new townhomes increase housing diversity in the neighborhood. Bitter Lake Townhouses | Photo courtesy of Pulte Homes.
Notes & Credits
This project was built by Pulte Homes.
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