Country Cottage

Country Cottage

by | Oct 4, 2022

Country Cottage

LIVE | TRADITIONAL

John & Sue’s JOURNEY

The path toward your new home can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to –– not if you have the right guide. Here’s a closeup look at one couple’s adventure.

This home takes full advantage of the expansive bay views that the site boasts, with a majority of the home’s windows oriented towards the water, and opens onto a large deck. Being in the Northwest, part of the deck is covered with infrared heat panels, making it a prime spot for relaxing and barbecuing. The exterior is clad in untreated Alaskan Yellow Cedar which will turn a nice silver color as it weathers. The living room features a floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace with the hearth extending the full width of the room, creating great spaces for reading and storage. Through the use of car decking as the finish floor material on the upper level, the floor framing and beam structure are able to be exposed creating an inviting and warm finish to the overall space.

Features: 3 bedroom, 2 bath • Carport with secure storage • Covered deck equipped with infrared heat panels • 1,800 sq. ft.

DISCOVERY

This was to be their second home… a getaway. They wanted a cottage feeling, a relaxed atmosphere with a big open living space including a loft.

The client also wanted a second master bedroom downstairs in case they decided to make this their retirement home and age would prevent them from sleeping upstairs. But for now, it would be a guest room.

They wanted to use natural materials throughout the home with as much exposed wood as possible. They were very specific in wanting no drywall.

 

Traditional Home
Stairs
Traditional living room
Living room
Dining and Living space

DESIGN

We designed the home with an exposed wood ceiling. The wood for the floor above was also the exposed ceiling for the kitchen below.

We placed large windows in the front facing their view of the Georgia Straights. This let in as much natural light as possible. So much so, that they needed very little indoor lighting during the day.

Instead of drywall, we used shiplap on the walls with a transparent stain to show the grain.

We used Alaskan yellow cedar for siding, leaving it unfinished, allowing it to silver with age.

BUDGET

Normally, we work with the contractor from the beginning of a project to assure everyone is on the same page regarding the budget.

But in this case, the client wanted the drawings first so they could get bids from several contractors. We designed the project, then they bid it out. This was a unique approach, but once a contractor was chosen, the drawings helped keep the project on budget.

 

 

 

Bedroom
Office
Bedroom
Music room balcony
Living room
Open Bifold door to outside

DOCUMENTS

Construction and other documents required quite a bit of detail because of the unique approach to the building, including special materials, the exposed car decking in the kitchen, exposed beams, and shiplap.

 

 

 

 

PERMITTING

Permitting for this site was a bit of a challenge. We had to be aware of archeological concerns to be sure we weren’t disturbing any Native American middens, or other historical artifacts. Fortunately, there weren’t any.

Due to the weather conditions in the area, storm water runoff could have been an issue. We were only allowed 2500 square feet of impervious surface, including the house and driveway. So we had to get creative

We designed a rain garden to absorb the excess water. A rain garden is a recess in the ground that the water can drain into and then soak into the soil without sending it offsite. It was planted with native plants to control all the water. The rain garden was designed with a grid system strong enough to support fire trucks.

Kitchen
Zero Energy Livingroom
Bedroom
Stick construction
Shed construction
Country Cabin construcion

CONSTRUCTION

Construction went very well. The contractor appreciated the detailed construction documents, and we were very happy with their timelines and quality of work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO ALBUM

Construction: Janzen Custom Builders    Photography: Jim W. Smith

Aslan Brewery

Aslan Brewery

by | Sep 30, 2022

Aslan Brewery

WORK | TENANT IMPORVEMENT

Aslan’s JOURNEY

Are you planning a new business and need to keep building costs down? In this project we reused as many materials as possible and worked diligently to stretch their budget.

Principal designer and builder for Aslan Brewing, Matt Remsbecher, owner of Slab Design, asked Haven to provide architectural assistance with code issues and coordination for a significant remodel to an aging commercial space in downtown Bellingham. Throughout the design process, Slab chose to reuse old materials from the previous space wherever possible, giving them new life in the finished space. The old floor sheathing was saved to be reused as wall cladding while other creative reuse opportunities were found in the steel and wood bar tops and railings, the large picture windows which showcase the brewery equipment beyond, and the re-exposed structural glulam beams overhead. Following Slab’s theme of reuse and authenticity, the brewery itself serves all organic beer, uses local sourcing whenever possible, and is heavily invested in various sustainable practices such as wind power offsetting. Since completion, the brewery has become a lively and engaging space for the Bellingham beer loving population.

Features:
Extensive reuse of existing materials • Open floor community space • Energy efficiency and sustainable business practices

DISCOVERY

They wanted a trendy, Northwest feel. The restaurant needed to allow for a large number of people in a lively, vibrant open space, promoting social interaction. It was important to them that their restaurant clientele could view the brewery in operation.

 

 

 

 

Aslan Restaurant
Aslan
Aslan
Aslan
Aslan
Aslan

DESIGN

We teamed up with Matt Remsbecher. a new designer. We were the architectural lead designing the remodel, paying attention to the flow of people within the building, and making sure all the required kitchen and building codes were met. Matt handled interior design elements.

 

 

 

BUDGET

Their budget was fairly tight, so to save money Matt wore two hats, both designer and contractor.

 

 

 

 

 

Aslan
Aslan
Aslan
Aslan Brewery
Aslan Brewery
Aslan Brewery

DOCUMENTS

We worked in collaboration with Matt to produce the needed documents. We supplied the full construction documents and Matt did the interior design documents.

 

 

 

 

PERMITTING

The challenge was the issue of viewing the brewery from the restaurant because of fire separation and protection codes. It required a lot of code analysis on our part to make it work, but that’s the sort of thing we do all the time. There is more to architecture than just the design.

 

 

 

 

Aslan Brewery
Aslan Brewery
Aslan Brewery
Aslan Brewery
Aslan Brewery
Aslan Brewery

CONSTRUCTION

Because the client and the contractor were both new, there were some tweaks to the design that required further permitting. We had to be flexible and attentive to their needs during the construction process and juggle all the balls in the air to keep the project on task.

The result was a beautiful building and one of the most popular destinations in the city.

 

 

 

PHOTO ALBUM

Construction: Slab Industries    Photography: Mitch Olsen

HAVEN

At Haven Design Workshop we aspire to integrate sustainability, collaborative design, and your budget into every project. Clear and open communication throughout makes you an integral part of the design team, and ensures that your vision becomes the Haven you deserve.

With our experience in design and construction, including building our own homes, we can help turn your dreams into reality and do it within the framework of your budget and project constraints. At Haven, we turn limits into guidelines, aspirations into realities, and help you create the Haven of your dreams.

“Sean came out to our property when we first met and I felt this helped him better understand the layout and what we were looking for. He was able to feel it and see it . . . not just hear it. It seemed during the design process that he used all of his senses to create our dream home. Other architects just didn’t seem to get what we were looking for, not Haven Design Workshop, they were great.”

Haven Design really listened to what we wanted. The process ensured an awesome solution. We love our new space!

Brad and Susan Anderson

Fairhaven Gardens

Fairhaven Gardens

by | Sep 30, 2022

Fairhaven Gardens

WORK | MIXED-USE

New landmark, historic flavor

Sometimes a building can add to the flavor of an entire community. This mixed-use condo and retail complex does just that.

This mixed-used project is located on a prominent sloping city block in downtown Fairhaven which faces three different streets. These site characteristics along with height limits were the driving forces behind the appearance and form of the building. The vernacular of the project blends in well with the surrounding historic downtown Fairhaven neighborhood. Retail and restaurants are located on the street level with two stories of condos above, which step with the slope of the site. A courtyard in the center serves both as a place to gather and allows natural light into all of the units.

Features:
32 condos • 7 retail spaces • 75,000+ sq. ft.

DISCOVERY

The primary focus was to design a beautiful, mixed-use building for retail spaces and condominiums, while blending the architecture to fit the historical aspect of the town.

The 75,000+ sq. ft. structure needed seven retail spaces, 32 condos, and two levels of underground parking.

 

 

 

Mixed use commercial
vintage lamp
Corner stone
Corner of classic multi-use building
Courtyard
Arched Garage

DESIGN

Because of the history of Fairhaven, we knew it had to be a brick building. After a view analysis, historical photo research, and studying the style and character of the town, we went for a fresh renaissance look.

The retail spaces were given direct access to the main streets. While the tenants roof gardens have a view of Bellingham Bay.

Adding to the attractive, old-style feel, square and arched windows are varied in a sort of modulated pattern, and the entrances to the undergound garage are arched.

Fairhaven Gardens is an enhanced landmark for downtown Fairhaven, adding to the creative vocabulary of the whole town.

BUDGET

At the time, Fairhaven Gardens was one of the most expensive buildings in Bellingham to build. But this was intentional, as up-scale condos would add to the sales value.

 

 

 

 

 

Back side of Fairhaven Gardens
Classic window detail
Roof garden
Fairhaven Gardens corner retail and condos
Garden chess
Courtyard chess

DOCUMENTS

We were not involved with construction but we provided detailed documents for the builders.

The city’s height limit was 35 feet. But the code was poorly written since it didn’t address the fact that the building would be on a hill adjoining three streets.

We helped the city better understand how the code impacted Fairhaven as a whole and our project in particular. They appreciated our input and changed the code, setting a precedent for all future building in the city.

PERMITTING

The rewritten code allowed us to maintain the city’s 35 ft height requirements throughout the slope of the hill by incorporating a stepped design. Our efforts to assist the city in changing their building codes helped the permitting process go smoothly for the client.

And because the city was so happy with the design, we passed the design review the first time through.

 

 

 

Fairhaven Gardens window detail
Fairhaven Garden Classic Window Detail
Fairhaven Gardens
Fairhaven Gardens balcony
Fairhaven Gardens
Fairhaven Gardens

CONSTRUCTION

As the architect of record, we were fully involved from the schematic design through to the final design development drawings. We also handled all communications with the city. Once our designs were completed, assuring the look and feel of old town Fairhaven, the simple task of completing the construction documents based on our design and reviewing construction was performed by another firm.

 

 

 

 

PHOTO ALBUM

Construction: Ebenal Construction    Photography: Jim W. Smith

Vertical Living

Vertical Living

by | Sep 29, 2022

Vertical Living

LIVE|CONTEMORARY

Matt and Holly’s JOURNEY

So, you have a small lot in an urban setting and yet you want lots of space. What do you do? Go vertical.

While partnered in a small development company, Sean was part of a team that purchased an old house on a double lot. The spare lot was used to design a new custom residence. Working with a small lot and the client’s desire for privacy and orientation toward views, the home went vertical. The five split levels end with a roof deck and art studio on top. Each bedroom is equipped with it’s own loft. Natural materials are used throughout the interior, with Corten and board form concrete forming the exterior, blending well with the landscape.

Features: 3 bedroom, 2-1/2 baths • Attached 2-car garage • External atrium • Radiant floor heat • Forced air cooling • 3,000 Sq.Ft.

DISCOVERY

The client wanted an edgy, contemporary home with lots of natural light that gave it a feeling of bringing the outdoors in. The home had to allow space for their growing family, an artist room, and a view of Fairhaven.

We originally designed their home around the lot they had, which was fairly small. However, the problem was their small lot was going to limit the lifestyle they wanted.

Luckily, a local development company had a larger lot just two blocks down from theirs. We were the architectural firm for that project as well and had already begun a design for a proposed house on that lot. So the client bought the larger lot and was able to have the home of their dreams.

Contemporary Kitchen and Living room
Contemporary Home
Modern stove and living room
Modern Home
Stairs
Stair treads

DESIGN

To give their home the indoor/outdoor feel they wanted, we included a bamboo atrium in a portion of the house, and massive doors off the dining area leading outside.

The children’s bedrooms were designed with Tansu chests built into the stairways leading up to the lofts.

All bedrooms and a media room are on the second floor with an art room on the rooftop deck above the media room.

The house had a unique, double stairway design. The main stairway was light and airy with a window seat so their daughter could read a book and look over the trees toward Sehome Hill. The second stairway was more private and hidden, allowing access from the garage to the mud room and leading to the kitchen, media room, master suite, and art spaces.

BUDGET

They planned their budget ahead of time to include their whole wish list. Though the budget might have been less of an issue for them, we made sure to stay within it and make their dreams happen.

 

 

 

 

 

Two level open to lower level
Tansu cabinets and stairs
Modern home at night
Modern home detail
Contemporary House
Interior entrance

DOCUMENTS

The construction documents required a lot of detail because of the high-end nature of the design. Floating stairs, railing details, metal beams, unique transitional spaces, the bamboo atrium… all of this and more had to be planned out carefully so the documentation would allow construction to go smoothly.

 

 

 

PERMITTING

The permitting process went exceptionally smooth due to the precise documentation and the expert experience of our in-house permitting technician. It was a hassle free experience for our client.

 

 

 

 

 

Modern Kitchen
Modern living space
Modern Shower
Modern Construction
Contemporary construction

CONSTRUCTION

The construction of the house went smoothly. The only real challenge was, because the house filled most of the lot, the contractor had a challenge figuring out where to stage the construction equipment and supplies. But in the end, all went well.

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO ALBUM

Construction: HBC Homes    Photography: Point 2 Studio

Zero Energy

Zero Energy

by | Sep 8, 2022

Zero Energy

LIVE | SUSTAINABLE

Steve’s Journey

Is sustainability important to you? How about a home that produces the same amount of energy as it uses each year?

This project began with a strong desire to achieve a high level of energy efficiency in a modest footprint, 3-bedroom home. As a NetZero energy home, the building produces, on-site, the same amount of energy as it uses in one year, resulting in a net annual energy usage of zero. To achieve this goal, space heating demand was reduced through a careful analysis of the program and how it best related to the site, resulting in a compact and efficient floor plan which maximized views of the valley below and capitalized on the solar heating potential of the ample south-facing glazing.

Great care was given to selecting the high-efficiency technology which powers the electric lighting, kitchen appliances, and air circulation equipment. These systems work in tandem to reduce the overall energy consumption of the home through features such as occupancy sensors and an intelligent home automation platform.

Heat loss through the building envelope was greatly reduced through a super-insulated double-wall exterior envelope system with further thermal bridging and heat loss being reduced through advanced framing techniques and exceptional air sealing.

Features: 3 bedroom, 2 bath • Solar panels • Rain water collection • GeoSpring hybrid electric hot water heater • Mini split whole house heat pump and heat recovery system

DISCOVERY

Our client was an engineer and very interested in the science and technology behind making a net zero energy home.

He was involved in selecting the elements used, all the way from how solar power input was monitored, to wall construction, and how we daylighted and shaded the house.

He also wanted to do a lot of farm production, both animals and plant food.

 

 

 

 

Sustainable Kitchen
Zero Energy Home drawing
Stairs
Zero Energy Kitchen
Zero Energy Home
Bring outdoors in

DESIGN

The house and the detached garage provide two different functions. The roof of the house is sloped away from the south to allow full passive solar exposure to the wall. The roof of the garage has the solar panels and therefore slopes towards the south.

Phase change materials are used in the southern wall of the house. When heated by the sun, the substance within the double walls becomes a liquid, but when the wall cools at night, it turns into a solid. This change from liquid to solid releases heat, warming the home at night. There is also a high efficiency wood stove to add additional warmth.

Other elements include a heat recovery ventilator, ductless mini splits, heat pump hot water heater, double wall construction with 2″ void in between, overhangs and canopies to protect from the sun in Summer but allow solar gain in the Winter when the sun is more horizontal.

The house is build at the top of a hill overlooking the terraced gardens and farm land below.

BUDGET

Cost for construction is higher than a standard home, but it is compensated in the long run with energy savings. The objective of a Net Zero Energy building is not only environmental , but economical as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sustainable Livingroom
Zero Energy Kitchen
Zero Energy Shower
Zero Energy Bathroom
Entrance
Open Bifold door to outside

DOCUMENTS

Documentation had to take into account the requirements to produce the net zero energy, including double wall construction and phase change materials.

The other challenge was the steeply sloped property requiring a stepped up level inside.

 

 

 

 

PERMITTING

Our in-house permitting technician was involved throughout the project as an advocate for our client, making sure the unique requirements for this house were approved.

A few of these requirements include:

The driveway had to be relocated and a berm removed for visibility and safety when entering the road.

Unique double wall construction was used on exterior walls for a full thermal break between the outside and inside walls.

And unique Phase Change materials for passive heating were needed.

But, because of our experience and relationship with the Whatcom County agencies, it all went smoothly.

Zero Enery Living room
Zero Energy Livingroom
Livingroom Stairs
Zero Energy construction 1
Zero Energy construction 2
Zero Energy construction 3

CONSTRUCTION

Our architect and design technicians maintained close collaboration with the contractor to assure proper construction of this unique home.

Part way through construction, before drywall was installed, Sustainable Connections gave a public tour so people could view the ventilation, insulation, and other factors unique to zero energy living.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO ALBUM

Construction: Bellingham Bay Builders    Photography: Jim W. Smith