Are you a developer wanting to build a multi-family complex while meeting challenging zoning requirements? Our in-house permitting tech and design team is on your side.
Features:
40 studio apartments • 7 offices • A shared covered deck • Natural light throughout, even in the hallways • Square Footage: 22,000 sq. ft. total, 300 – 350 sq. ft. per unit
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
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.
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.
Their budget was fairly tight, so to save money Matt wore two hats, both designer and contractor.
We worked in collaboration with Matt to produce the needed documents. We supplied the full construction documents and Matt did the interior design documents.
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.
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.
Construction: Slab Industries Photography: Mitch Olsen
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Construction: Ebenal Construction Photography: Jim W. Smith
This property had a beautiful view but was also near a train track. We mitigated the sound and vibration issues using special concrete ICF forms.
This project features luxury condos which overlook Bellingham’s popular Boulevard Park and the beautiful bay beyond. With frequent railroad traffic passing below the site, there was a large focus on mitigating both the sound and movement that passing trains generate. To address this, insulated concrete forms (ICF) were used on the exterior, which helped both with stabilizing the structure and reducing sound transfer. A large courtyard in the center of the complex allows natural light to flood into all of the units and is also equipped with a sculptural water feature which provides both visual and auditory appeal for the residents.
Features:
2-3 bedroom units open onto private decks • Formal dining • Individual patios • Covered parking • Secure individual storage • 16 units @ 2,000+ sq. ft. each
Construction: Skeers Construction