Mark on 8th was the beginning of our relationship with our clients, Macfarlane Partners. The project was also the first of several for us that involved preserving an historic façade while converting the rest of the site. At the core of this unique project was the need to reimagine a 1930s auto shop into boutique apartments for the worldly tastes of Seattle’s South Lake Union residents. Our challenge was ensuring the fragile ninety-year-old concrete did not collapse during construction. The façade gave us a great place to start with its detailed concrete and plaster art deco relief designs. The rhythms and modulations of our bays and balconies were influenced by the garage for visual flow. We used brick and fiber cement on the exterior to further make the preserved garage façade stand out. Townhouses on the ground floor were inspired by Seattle’s oldest park, Denny Park, nearby. The stoops enhance the residential experience by creating a buffer between private and public. We also carefully considered proximity to the neighboring church by staggering the apartments’ window placement to create privacy for the residents, and creating a safe, well-lit walkway between the church and building.

A historic site revitalized, Mark on 8th is a mixed-use apartment building located in the South Lake Union area of Seattle that is imbued with 1930s art deco. Holistically, the architecture and the interior designs brought the neighborhood, the industrial history of the area, and the art deco influences together as one. In the corridors large rounded wooden numeric wayfinding markers add a whimsical complement to the stone wall on which they are mounted. The pendant light fixtures hanging in the lounge area were crafted by a local artist, and photographs of the historic landmark garage of yesteryear hang on the lobby wall, connecting past and present. Amenity spaces are eclectic and quirky, while also being grounded in natural and exposed materials; reclaimed wood, and exposed concrete hint at the past life and uses of the area. Designed with worldly-students and career-focused individuals in mind, Mark on 8th has 174 units, including studio, one- and two-bedroom options. Overlooking the surrounding urban neighborhood, residents enjoy the atmosphere and generous natural light that streams through large windows, lively and eclectic. Those large windows and high ceilings aid in keeping smaller units feeling open and spacious. The interiors are clean and modern and fresh. Within the units two kitchen schemes allow for design flexibility for the residents; rustic ambiance with white cabinetry and wood tones, or a darker, intimate space influenced by steel. The unit living spaces have pops of bright orange or blue, a contrast and relief from the natural raw wood, concrete, and exposed brick used throughout. A meld of modern and historic, located near city conveniences, Mark on 8th is a comfortable place to call home.