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Archive for September, 2009

Scott Allen juror for Northwest Design Awards

Scott was a juror for the 2009 Northwest Design Awards. This program, sponsored by the Seattle Design Center and Seattle Homes and Lifestyles Magazine, selects the most innovative and creative designs in a range of categories. In 2006, Allen recieved two First Place awards at this event.

Shek-O Residence, Hong Kong

Perched on a perfect knoll above the South China Sea, this private compound takes full advantage of its unique rural site. The house design features strong horizontal lines that extend from the building into the landscape, creating large covered terraces protected from the semi-tropical climate, only one of many sustainable design techniques used throughout the modern residential design. Full-height glass walls help dissolve the connection between inside and outside. The interiors are richly appointed using both native teak and imported woods from the Pacific Northwest.

The entertaining and private living spaces are on a single level, and the garage, servants’ quarters and other support spaces occupy a lower level, tucked into the sloping site.

Awarded Best in Residential Category, 2009 International Interior Design Association, Northern Pacific Chapter. See News and Recognition section for more information.

Featured in Architectural Digest, August 2009

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This project was executed while Scott Allen was a Principal at Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects (OSKA). Scott Allen, co-principal in collaboration with Jim Olson, principal designer. Interiors by OSKA. Benjamin Benschneider, photography.

Cliff House

Tucked against the wall of a natural cliff on the water’s edge in Gig Harbor, Washington, this house design responded to the unique challenge of its site. The footprint for the new structure replaces an old guest house and boathouse, and was limited in its size by an agreement with regulatory agencies.

The design solution makes the roof of the new structure an extension of the upland lawn, with a glass-enclosed elevator accessing the two levels below. To the south, an outdoor living space is set between the house and a new boathouse.  Stairs lead down to the water form a series of decks, terraces, and bridges for easy living and entertaining. This area features a wood-burning pizza oven and an outdoor fireplace.

Inside, the main level has the feel of a boat’s cabin, with Douglas fir for ceilings, walls, and trims. Large, oversized windows and doors invite the outside in, and allow for a completely free air flow during the warm months. The exterior materials were selected for their abilities to withstand the environment, including copper, concrete, metal window cladding, and cedar. Sustainable design techniques such as sunscreens, a green roof, and complete envelope integrity are featured.

Northwest Design Awards, Outdoor Living, 1st Place, 2006

Featured in PMG’s Home and Garden, Winter 2005/2006, other publications

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This project was executed while Scott Allen was a Principal at Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects (OSKA). Scott Allen, principal designer. Interiors by OSKA. Tim Bies, photography.

Seattle University School of Law

This award-winning contemporary design centers on an open, light-filled atrium space, to help foster a strong sense of community for the school.  Accommodating approximately 850 students, this 136,000 sf building is both compact and generous in its plan and proportions.

Given the surrounding context, there was a strong desire to minimize the impact of this structure on its surroundings.  Moving the main case rooms to a lower level and opening this area up to the space above created a visually appealing atrium space, while keeping the above-grade mass within the scale of the campus.  The four floors above grade house smaller classrooms as well as a 250,000-volume library, faculty offices, administrative spaces, student gathering areas, law clinic, moot court, and other functions.

Connections to the school’s surroundings were made by creating covered exterior pathways and by using masonry and other materials found elsewhere on campus.  Extensive use of daylighting strategies to bring in and control natural light and the use of rain-screen wall technologies are examples of sustainable design strategies used in this building.

Seattle AIA Award of Merit, 2000
Northwest Masonry Award, 2000

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This project was executed while Scott Allen was a Principal at Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects (OSKA). Scott Allen, co-principal in collaboration with Rick Sundberg (Yost Grube Hall, Associate Architects). Interiors by Yost Grube Hall. Benjamin Benschneider, photography. Tim Bies, photography.