A new 31-story residential building, named The Kaye, has opened in downtown Seattle's Belltown neighborhood. Designed by Grzywinski + Pons, with Perkins Eastman as architect of record, the tower stands out with its light olive-colored facade and distinctive glazed boxes that extend from its edges, offering residents unique panoramic views.
Key Takeaways
- The Kaye is a 31-story luxury apartment building in Seattle's Belltown.
- It features a light olive facade and unique "sky lounges" that protrude from the tower.
- The design blends modern aesthetics with a respectful nod to the neighborhood's historic architecture.
- Public spaces include a double-height lobby with an onyx staircase and amenities like co-working areas.
Integrating History with Modern Design
The Kaye is located in one of Seattle's most densely populated areas. This neighborhood is known for its diverse architectural landscape, mixing new glass high-rises with historic early 20th-century buildings. The design team aimed to bridge this gap, creating a structure that feels contemporary while honoring its surroundings.
The building's name itself, The Kaye, pays homage to Kaye-Smith Productions, a recording studio that once occupied the site. This connection underscores the architects' commitment to the area's heritage.
Belltown's Architectural Mix
Belltown is a vibrant Seattle neighborhood characterized by its blend of old and new. On the same block as The Kaye, for example, there are Georgian Revival and Tudor Revival-style homes from the 1920s, featuring classic masonry and cast stone. This eclectic mix presented a unique design challenge.
"We wanted to design a building that celebrated the best qualities of its early-20th-century neighbors while creating new homes for those experiencing Seattle's exciting future," stated the project team from New York City-based Grzywinski + Pons.
Distinctive Facade and "Sky Lounges"
The tower's design consists of a rectangular 31-story structure atop a multi-story podium. The base is designed to appear solid and grounded, while the tower above aims for a more translucent, light appearance. This contrast creates a dynamic visual effect.
The facade incorporates windows and light olive-colored panels, arranged within a grid of mullions and spandrels. This grid provides texture and visual interest. In the upper sections of the tower, the grid becomes less rigid, enhancing the sense of verticality. This intentional variation prevents the facade from looking monotonous.
Unique Projections
- The glazed boxes, or "sky lounges," are a key architectural feature.
- These projections offer some residential units expansive 270-degree views of the city.
- They also serve to visually break up the tower's grid, adding a unique geometric element.
A series of glazed boxes protrude from the tower's edges. These are described as "sky lounges" and are integrated into certain residential units. They provide residents with extraordinary, wide-ranging views, making these units particularly desirable.
Thoughtful Podium Design at Street Level
The base of The Kaye, known as the podium, received significant attention to ensure it interacts harmoniously with the street and its mid-rise neighbors. The designers aimed for a human-scale experience at ground level.
The podium is clad in light olive-colored concrete panels and glazed Roman brick. Arches above the windows draw inspiration from nearby historic buildings, further connecting the new structure to its older surroundings.
A colonnade along the ground level offers pedestrians shelter from Seattle's frequent rain. This architectural element also helps to blur the line between the building's private interior and the public sidewalk, inviting interaction.
Interior Spaces and Amenities
Behind the colonnade lies the building's double-height lobby, envisioned as a grand hall. It features stone flooring and a striking onyx-clad staircase. This staircase leads to a mezzanine level, where residents can access various amenities, including a co-working space.
Beyond the lobby, the ground floor of the podium also includes commercial spaces, bike storage, and a mail room. The upper floors of the podium contain three-bedroom apartments, designed to accommodate families.
The architects also designed "hospitality-grade" public areas within the tower itself, specifically on floors seven and 32. In these communal spaces, structural elements are deliberately exposed, complemented by softer touches like wooden tambour panels, large rugs, and comfortable sofas. A palette of pale pink and sea foam green colors contributes to a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Residential Features
- Apartments include built-in furniture, such as bookshelves.
- Kitchens feature elegant marble-topped islands.
- Lighting and window treatments are chosen for both warmth and practicality.
Inside the residences, thoughtful details enhance living spaces. Built-in furniture, such as bookshelves, provides convenience and style. Kitchens boast marble surfaces, including islands, adding a touch of luxury. The selection of lighting and window treatments aims to create a warm and functional home environment.
The architects hope The Kaye will become a significant and distinctive addition to Belltown, a neighborhood constantly evolving. They believe the building successfully combines the "masonic language of the 1920s with a diaphanous tower," respecting the past while embracing the future.