Structure Type: built works - dwellings - houses

Designers: Anderson, Ralph D., and Partners, Architects (firm); Ralph Donald Anderson Jr. (architect)

Dates: constructed 1998-1999

2 stories, total floor area: 2,833 sq. ft.

3103 Alki Avenue SW
West Seattle, Seattle, WA 98116-2612

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This two-story waterside house contained 3 bedrooms and had an indoor lap pool. It had a stout concrete foundation on which posts and beams of clear cedar rested. Architect's own house; the architect's son, Ross, served as the building contractor for this 2,833-square-foot residence. Seattle Times contributing writer Dean Stahl interviewed Anderson in this residence. Anderson said of it: "I was interested in doing as much as I could on this narrow lot. It's about 35 feet across. I designed this house to handle a lot of art, to exploit the view and to utilize clear cedar, which I never had done before in a house; it was too expensive for my clients. All the trim inside is cedar, all the doors are cedar — everything is cedar. I was able to find some great clear-cedar beams that came from Canada. Not too much of that is available now. I think I got rid of my cedar jag." (See Dean Stahl, "Taking The Long View,"Accessed 02/14/2012.)

Anderson and his wife Shirley had a nomadic life, according to the architect's own count, living in nine different dwellings and six or so apartments or small residences. (See Dean Stahl, "Taking The Long View,"Accessed 02/14/2012.) This house was voted one of the "10 Greatest Homes" by Seattle Met magazine in 01/2012.

PCAD id: 14472