The Bluff is a residential project by DeForest Architects, located on Northwest Leary Way in Seattle, Washington. Set on a former sheep pasture with significant ecological features, including an orchard, mature evergreens, and a notable historic connection, the site called for a design that would minimize disturbance to the land. The convergence of multiple environmentally sensitive areas on the property, combined with the presence of a stream and a steep bluff, prompted the use of a 32-foot cantilever for the main living area and a strategy of embedding the structure within the landscape.
The design incorporates extensive green roofs and light-filled courtyards to integrate the house into the terrain, with many elements placed beneath the level of the original pasture for minimal visual impact. Rooftop solar panels, ground-source heat, and stormwater management via water features and bioretention planters address environmental concerns. Salvaged materials, such as a front door made from an airplane wing and a doorbell crafted from a scuba tank, appear throughout. Programmatic choices include unique features like an internal slide, a wall panel opening to a "wine tunnel" with a secret door, and a reconstructed historic fireplace, reflecting the client's interest in both art and inventive surprises.
