past present house

Past Present House is a renovation and expansion of a 4,800-square-foot French Norman style residence in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The original house, notable for its formal and inward-oriented layout, included traditional woodwork and craftsmanship but made little use of its half-acre backyard. The design brief emphasized maintaining historic character while introducing more daylight, openness, and a stronger relationship with the landscape. Chadbourne + Doss Architects addressed the brief by creating a contemporary addition at the rear of the house with new spaces including a kitchen, family room, primary suite, and a roof deck, all oriented toward a terraced garden. The project preserves original elements such as wood detailing, arched plaster passages, and enclosed rooms, while the addition brings in materials like blackened steel, walnut cabinetry, and full-height glass doors. These interventions allow for varied spatial experiences, blending the original home’s intimacy with new, outward-facing spaces. The interiors reflect the owners’ ties to both the U.S. and Shanghai, accommodating their collection of contemporary Chinese art and Asian antiques.

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