Woodinville is designing some attractive buildings and open places for pedestrians and bicycles. These buildings are next to City Hall.
Opinion: A few, but not many, architectural designs of downtown Redmond buildings are "inspired by history." Unlike Woodinville, our City doesn't have an overarching design theme. Redmond's use of history for design is sporadic and unsupported by code. As a result, buildings don't always use the most appropriate materials and aren't visually connected. Wood, stone veneer and building art are uncommon. (Green scaping is more prevalent and welcome!) The proposed RTC and Nelson Villages' are remaining places where an overarching design theme can be implemented.
Designs of the following projects were "inspired" by Redmond's past:
"The Osprey" The applicant has a solid start in the design concept acknowledging the history of the region’s indigenous populations with its strong roof forms, reminiscent of the Haida house across the street in Dudley Carter Park, the City’s early timber industry with its choice of wood and stone material, and the City’s future as a modern technology hub with the building’s irregular shape and significant glazing." (DRB)
"18th & 164th" project: "The architectural design was inspired by the Cascades and the Nokomis Library of the early 1900's. How the book stacks were organized and how books can be arranged on the shelf was inspirational to the Applicant in designing elevations." (DRB)
Will Redmond have an overarching design theme to build character into Town Center? Is the theme underpinned with choices of required elements? Below, find Woodinville's approach to design code describing their theme and underpinning elements.
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WOODINVILLE BUILDING DESIGN – Character: "The Commercial Design Guidelines" in Woodinville can be seen as an overarching design theme:
1) " Exterior finishes and materials to be compatible with Northwest Woodland character and 2) Material finishes to reflect the early 1900s domestic agrarian *vernacular of materials."
The following elements underpin Woodinville's overarching theme:
• "All siding materials should be complemented with wood elements. The proposal includes using both smooth Ceraclad exterior siding (which is a factory-finished, ceramic-coated fiber cement siding system) and 4-inch cedar siding."
• "Exterior finish colors should be neutral shades of natural colors found in Northwest woodlands or colors typical of historic agrarian structures of the Northwest and may include limited use of compatible accent colors. The proposal includes exterior colors of natural cedar wood, natural stone, deep brown/burgundy, and a light tan for the exterior wall finishes."
WOODINVILLE DESIGN DETAILS:
Building Details --"The most important aspects of a building are its design details, texture of materials, quality of its finishes, and small, decorative elements."
In a pedestrian oriented business area, it is essential that buildings and their contents be attractive up close. The Commercial Design Guidelines require all new buildings to include on the facades that face a street, park, or pedestrian route at least four of the listed design features.
• Stone veneer siding on the lower ground floor office area and glass block windows along the far west side.
• The proposal includes artwork which is attached to the building. There are several cutout backlit metal tree panels that will be installed on the front of the building.
• The proposal includes decorative light fixtures with a diffused visible light source, and a decorative cylindrical shade.
• In order to break up the ground floor windows the applicant is proposing large wooden beams and black metal framing as trim.
The Project: https://www.ci.woodinville.wa.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10062021-36
*Vernacular architecture evolves over time reflecting the characteristics of the local environment, climate, culture, natural materials, technology and the experience of centuries of community building.
Opinion by Bob Yoder, Video Yoder, 6/1/2022
Source: Woodinville website: "Design Review Committee" Project: Mereki Apartments:
I found Town Center's proposed plans for design materials and am surprised "wood" was not listed. Redmond was a lumber town and logs may have been transported by train at one time. Wood is part of our culture. I hope you will encourage staff and Council to include wood-like materials in building designs, particularly at Town Center and the Nelson Village. Below, is a paragraph on building designs from aTown Center zoning document.
ReplyDelete"Buildings and facades in the Town Center Mixed-Use area should be a combination of brick, stucco like finishes, smooth-finished concrete, and architectural metals. Building facades in the Town Center Mixed-Use and The south portion of the zone, adjacent to Bear Creek Parkway, facing SR 520 and Bear Creek, should prioritize glazing along the façade and limit blank walls along pedestrian levels. areas should have a greater proportion of voids (windows) than solids (blank walls) on pedestrian levels. Buildings and facades in the Bear Creek retail area should be primarily masonry products with concrete and architectural metals used for detailing if desired. All building designs should emphasize the quality of detail and special form in window treatments, columns, eaves, cornices, lighting, signing, and other design elements."
Woodinville has some creative buildings/ plazas and creative Design Review Committee guidelines. A post / video of my tour is at this link:
https://redmondcity.blogspot.com/2022/06/redmonds-building-designs-are-guided-by.html