For sale: Usonian-esque in Vashon, WA

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 7:46 am

Wright-Inspired Usonian Cottage on Vashon Asks $374K

16001 91st Ave SW, Vashon, WA

David

SREcklund · Post by **SREcklund** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 9:00 am

Almost looks like someone had some extra Tracy blocks and didn't know what to do with them. Beautiful area.

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 10:37 am

This looks like it was done with much care and reverence to the original Automatics. The kitchen is lovely, in particular.

The designer's choice of positioning the dueling built in benches so close to each other, each scaled differently (at least judging from the photos), creates some awkwardness in the living area. And I'm not sure that those built in light fixtures are helping the space.

But overall, especially considering it was done recently, this is far superior to most Wright knockoffs we see...

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 12:28 pm

This is a very handsome house for a suspiciously low price. Peter, the "dueling built in benches" are a flaw, not so much the interruption as the difference in scale of the back rests. Uninterrupted, that is, not dueling, the bench would be out of scale with the intimate size of the room. That was probably a vexing detail for the architect, whoever that may have been. To Paul, on SWCCFLW, no, I don't think this is Stricker. I have never seen anything my Milton of the UA type.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 8:38 pm

Spec-tac-ular. I agree with the crits and the praises. Someone beating the Old Man at his Usonian Automatic game ? The ceilings alone are worth the price of admission; the glazed block is employed to maximum advantage. Yum.

SDR

SREcklund · Post by **SREcklund** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:30 pm

Roderick Grant wrote:This is a very handsome house for a suspiciously low price.

Let's not forget that we're talking about a one bedroom, one bathroom house that is literally in the middle of nowhere ...

KevinW · Post by **KevinW** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:41 pm

The fact that something like this was even able to be built only 16 years ago is very impressive. What a sweetheart.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:53 pm

Friends who have lived on Vashon Island (a large island in Puget Sound, close to Seattle) report it as a delightful alternative to the typical suburb: woodsy and wild, but an easy commute to the city.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vashon,_Washington

SDR

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 9:06 pm

If only I could arrange he commute I'd look into it. But Vashon is only reachable by boat.

Stricke did some block houses. There is one up north of Ballard that has a very UA look to it.

jay · Post by **jay** » Thu May 19, 2016 8:49 pm

Here's an article about the design and building of this house... Someone shared this on the PrairieMod comment section.... Worth reading for any FLLW fans:

jay · Post by **jay** » Thu May 19, 2016 8:50 pm

The link:

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource. ... ug=4050273

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Thu May 19, 2016 9:10 pm

Thanks, Jay. That's a useful complement to the photos linked earlier.

Only one inaccurate sentence, I think: "Most [Usonian houses] were built of concrete blocks . . ."

Looking again at the photos, I see the owner didn't scrimp; he used piano hinges on all doors.

SDR

Kelly Johnston · Post by **Kelly Johnston** » Sat May 21, 2016 11:58 pm

Seven days after listing the property is 'Pending' at full price.
http://m.estately.com/listings/info/16001-91st-ave-sw

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Sun May 22, 2016 12:20 am

A notable development, here, is the combination of Wright's Automatic block and a hipped roof with matching (wooden) "overhead." Wright apparently saw the Usonian Automatic type as an entirely orthogonal form, with flat roofs. The subject house is a very nice demonstration of a different proposal.

SDR

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Sun May 22, 2016 3:24 pm

McCartney and Eric Brown Houses have pitched roofs finished with wood ceilings inside. Then there are Levin and Epstein with shed roofs.