Hamilton Apartments at 2305 E Madison St is finally open, renting out its units and finding tenants to fill its retail storefronts. When we first proposed the design solution for the project back in 2012, it was a radical departure from conventional development, providing housing units and retail spaces about half the typical size, with about 1/4 of the parking one would normally expect. In the intervening five years between the first sketch and opening the front door, everyone's original hesitancy seems almost quaint. Since that time, we have designed over 20 apartment buildings, many with units half the size of those at Hamilton and with only a handful of parking spaces between all of them.
The triangular site geometry creates a unique floor plan, with a footprint less than 40' wide wrapping around the perimeter, creating a V shaped building with an interior courtyard that captures natural light and views for the rear units.
We used an exterior material palette of Oko skin and Swiss Pearl siding to create a distinctive exterior cladding system. The commercial facade along Madison has staggers and offsets in the panel composition, while the residential face of the building along Denny Way is a quieter and more orderly composition. The prows of the building resolve as a sharp point to give expression to the triangular geometry of the site.
The narrow floorplate creates units that are wider than they are deep, allowing for over-sized windows and generous natural light into all of the homes. With the building situated at the top of the 23rd Avenue ridge, the roof deck at the top level enjoys expansive views of Lake Washington and Mount Rainier.
The project provides a mix of small studios, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments. The project is also participating in the MFTE program, reserving 20% if its units for rental at affordable prices. In this building it works out to about $400-$500 per month less than market price.
The owners are currently looking for a restaurant tenant for the large corner space, and are talking with a number of local businesses for the small incubator (300-450sf) retail spaces along Madison, including a hair salon, a tutoring classroom, and an exercise studio.
