Hybrid Architecture

DESIGN FOR RESILIENCE - CO-LIVING IN PIONEER SQUARE​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Originally built in 1890 in the Romanesque Revival style popular in Seattle after the 1889 fire, the Mutual Life Insurance Company purchased the building in 1916 and added five floors. In 1983, Historic Seattle acquired the building and provided financing assistance for the rehabilitation of what was a very deteriorated building located on a prominent corner in Pioneer Square. The building itself sits on one of the most historic sites in the city; the original location of Henry Yesler’s cookhouse that served his sawmill in the early 1850s and was one of Seattle’s first community gathering spaces. The building has been through many renovations throughout the decades including a brief stint as studios in the 1960’s and then restored back into office in the 1980’s by the firms Hewitt/Daly/Isley and Olson/Walker Architects.

The project looks to make the units naturally affordable. Given the demand for affordable housing, there is an opportunity to use this style to address affordability, while also respecting the constraints related to an existing historic building. By respecting existing facades and reducing plumbing, the project reduces cost and increases affordability. Distributed shared bathrooms greatly reduce plumbing installation cost and increase floor area dedicated to private space. Communal kitchen, living and laundry facilities at each level provide opportunities for community interaction and give renewed meaning to the term neighbors.

The Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development sent out a call for ideas to convert existing downtown Office space into Residential housing. Here is a look at HYBRID’s First Place winning entry! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​HYBRID’s submission looks to leverage existing under utilized building stock, to bring a model of Co-Living and residential density to pioneer square. Historically, Pioneer Square has contributed to Seattle's affordable housing stock through SRO (Single Room Occupancy) units. Hybrid felt that the introduction of a Co-Living prototype honored the area's past while reimagining affordable housing units in the 21st century. By respecting existing facades, revamping and expanding building services in place where possible the project focuses on reducing the typical construction costs that can afflict adaptive reuse projects. Combining dedicated private spaces with communal kitchen, living and laundry facilities at each level provide opportunities for community interaction and give renewed meaning to the term neighbors. Thank you for recognizing our work and thank you to our collaborators: Great Expectations, West and Wheeler, and Diamond Parking.

Individual co-living units are bathed in abundant natural light and ventilation from the existing large scale openings. Ceiling heights in excess of 10’ add to the sense of scale and permanence of these spaces. New interior materials are sym-pathetic to the historic character of the building while breathing fresh life to the building and offering opportunities for contemporary living. Each suite includes a small kitchenette for simple meal preparation and shares a bath with no more than two other residents.