Model Citizen
Ashworth Cottages, Seattle
This little gem of a project proves that density can be downright delightful when done right. Blending 12 cottages and eight carriage-style units into a turn-of-the-20th-century neighborhood, Runberg Architecture Group and builder/developer Pryde Johnson seamlessly introduced an alternative (and more affordable) housing type to an area dominated by single-family homes—all the while respecting the scale and character of what was there first. Inspired by Danish co-housing, the compact project puts 20 units on .79 of an acre, with homes priced from $689,950 to $869,950.
With their Craftsman façades, these tidy dwellings fit right in, but they are decidedly different from their older neighbors in one fundamental way: As the first project in the state to obtain a LEED Platinum rating, Ashworth Cottages stands as the greenest of green prototypes. For residents, the compact site design and infill location make walking, bicycling, and public transit viable alternatives to driving. Some 95 percent of construction waste was recycled, and many materials salvaged from the original site (bricks, terra cotta tiles, truss beams) were creatively reused as landscape features.
That’s just the beginning. The Energy Star–rated homes also pack in ultra-efficient heating, integrated water conservation systems (including hot water on demand, low-flow plumbing fixtures, rainwater cisterns, and drip irrigation heads for landscaping), FSC-certified wood, formaldehyde-free millwork, recycled composite decking, non–off-gassing paints and finishes, carpet made from 50 percent recycled content and high-performance windows, lighting, and appliances. And because the project made significant use of local materials, the fossil fuels and truck miles required to transport materials to the jobsite were significantly reduced. Each cottage incorporates more than 12 locally sourced products.
Given its charming good looks, this project might easily have won an award on aesthetics alone. But with its sustainable ethics, it wins the personality and talent competitions too, hands down.—Jenny Sullivan
Award: Grand for best sustainable community—detached; Builder/Developer: Pryde Johnson Urban Environments, Seattle; Architect: Runberg Architecture Group, Seattle
