Transforming Residential Practice: Architecture in Northern Landscapes

Todd Saunders, a Norway-based Canadian architect known to infuse his contemporary buildings with an artistic sensibility that is deeply in tune with the uniqueness of northern terrains, takes us on a journey of thirty of his spectacular houses and villas throughout Norway and Canada. His use of natural materials and simple yet striking geometries sets him apart as one of the most celebrated architects of his generation.

Todd describes how his innovative solutions to challenging sites and harsh climates acknowledge vernacular histories, respect cultural traditions and push the envelope with innovative and breathtaking structural solutions.

Transforming Residential Practice: Designing Your Own Home

This two-part course starts with David Van Gallen, AIA, presenting a case study of Little House/Big Shed,a 900 SF house for himself and his wife on a sensitive site that contains ravines, wetlands and native trees. David illustrates the intimate connection between the house and site and his minimal use of material..

In the second case study, Jon Gentry, AIA, showcases Rambler House that he designed and built with his wife Lydia using local materials and on-site milling of local timber. From capturing views of natural habitat to fine detailing, this course shows the care and passion of building one’s home on a sensitive wildlife site.

Transforming Residential Practice: The Possibilities of Innovative Residential Practice

This rapid-fire course features three architects highlighting innovative residential practices and the director of a non-profit organization that teaches teens design and carpentry through community-based projects.

Kailin Gregga, AIA, LEED AP+BDC from Best Practice Architecture, shows us how to incorporate sustainable strategies in DADU’s and small residential projects with an amusing comparison to avocado toast.

Kevin Kudo-King, AIA, LEED AP of Olson Kundig, explains how a stunning “Treehouse” in Costa Rica responds to the local climate, reduces energy consumption and sequesters carbon dioxide.

Geoff Piper of Fivedot Architects, makes a compelling case for increasing housing density and equity by adding more DADU’s throughout the Seattle region.

Sarah Smith, Executive Director of Sawhorse Revolution, presents a case study of the design and construction of a community library that taught young women and youths of color how to transform themselves and their communities through a hands-on project. .

The rapid-fire presentations are followed by an insightful discussion with audience members.

Transforming Residential Practice: Hardworking Home: Innovation, Exploration, Cross-Pollination

Lewis McNeel, AIA, from Lake|Flato leads us through Lake|Flato’s explorations into high-performance and carbon-reduction building strategies.

With stunning images and insightful commentary, Lewis takes us on a journey of eight residential and larger-scale projects and discusses advanced strategies for siting, pre-engineering systems and on-site fabrication, 3-D construction printing, passive heating and cooling, energy-efficient daylighting, and mass timber construction. This course will leave you inspired to learn more about net zero carbon design and energy-efficient materials and construction techniques.

Transforming Residential Practice: Case Study--Stillaguamish Village

Daniel Glenn, AIA, AICAE, from 7 Directions Architects/Planners, presents a case study of Stillaguamish Village, a residential community for the Stillaguamish Tribe in Washington consisting of rental housing, Elders cottages, a wellness clinic and a canoe carving workshop.

Daniel discusses the housing design workshop he facilitated with the Stillaguamish Tribe, which examined how one creates sustainable housing environments, how to preserve old growth forests, and create a sense of community and connection to the native landscape. Daniel also explains how the seven directions of his cultural heritage informs his design (4 cardinal directions, upward to Father Sky, downward to Mother Earth, and inward to our hearts.)

Transforming Residential Practice: Traditions of Residential Architecture in the Pacific Northwest Region

Moderated by Peter Miller of Peter Miller Books, this course explores traditional of residential architecture in the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on sustainability and equity. After brief presentations, panelists explore traditions of residential architecture in the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on sustainability and equity.

Susan Boyle, Principal, BOLA Architecture + Planning, explores the historical development of equitable housing. Ken Tadashi Oshima, Professor/Director of History Theory at the Dept. of Architecture of Univ. of Washington, discusses the evolution of accessory dwelling units and minimal housing. Rick Sundberg, FAIA, of SKL Architects, showcases his housing designs including his own aging in-place home. Gordon Walker, Consulting Principal at Mithun, takes us on a virtual tour of his regional housing.er Miller and the panelists gather for a discussion focused on housing affordability and cost-effective use of various materials.

Rapid Decarbonization: Power + Place

Filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2022 Practicing Equity & Advocacy in Rapid Decarbonization summit, keynote presenter Bryan Lee Jr., Founder/Director of Colloqate Design, explores the privilege and power structures that have defined injustice in the built environment from America’s inception. Citing historical examples, Bryan looks at the design justice movement and how the theory of practice continually advocates for the dismantling of power ecosystems that use architecture and design to create injustice throughout the built environment. Bryan poignantly examines these issues through the lens of environmental justice.

Rapid Decarbonization: Advocating to Eliminate Embodied Carbon

Filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2022 Practicing Equity & Advocacy in Rapid Decarbonization summit, this session explores significant research, opportunities, and strategies for reducing atmospheric carbon and impacts on the health and well-being of our ecosystems at-large. Presenters examine small resource-based economies, sustainable forestry initiatives and practices, and data and policy interventions that examine the responsibility of the industry and government, advocate for systems-change, and support the elimination of embodied carbon from the built environment.

Rapid Decarbonization: Equitable Life-Cycles in Healthy Materials Sourcing

We must take a whole life cycle approach to healthy material sourcing that considers the spectrum of upstream and downstream impacts of decarbonization and supports equitable outcomes for communities.

Filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2022 Practicing Equity & Advocacy in Rapid Decarbonization summit, this session investigates healthy building strategies, labor and supply chain implications, materials toxicity and chemical concerns that affect the lived experiences of users. Presenters also explore historical and current community design practices that either inhibit or lead to healthier buildings.

Rapid Decarbonization: The Value of Responsible Building

High costs can be viewed as a significant barrier to decarbonization strategies. But across project scales, we must build responsibly based on what can be afforded and consider how the investments we make now can have the most equitable long-term impacts.

Filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2022 Practicing Equity & Advocacy in Rapid Decarbonization summit, this session explores research on affordable housing strategies, examples of all-electric systems implementation in low-income communities, decision-making processes to encourage owner/developer buy-in, and our collaborative responsibilities to our communities and environmental stewardship.

Just Transition - The Water We Swim In

Lisa Richmond, Hon. AIA, (Former) Executive Director, AIA Seattle + Design in Public, and Meghan Lewis, Senior Researcher, Carbon Leadership Forum, University of Washington, introduce us to the upstream and downstream impacts of decarbonization and how equity and social justice impact a transition to clean energy sources, materials, and processes.

Kristen Dotson, Assoc. AIA, Sustainability Services Director, The Miller Hull Partnership, and Brent Davies, Vice President, Forests and Ecosystem Services, Ecotrust, then discuss some of the upstream impacts of the built environment including how “Climate-Smart Forestry” and the complexities of timber sourcing aim to balance ecosystem health with strong local economies.

After viewing this course, you will understand how a massive mobilization of labor and resources are often locked into systems and processes that either prioritize equitable advancement or sustain the current systemic oppressions and privileges that have been in place for generations.

Just Transition - Building as a Public Benefit?

This session explores the downstream impacts of decarbonization, focusing on how the shift to reducing emissions influences equity, community health, and community wellbeing. Moderator Amarpreet Sethi, Assoc. AIA, Enviro, introduces how buildings can serve as public benefit rather than perpetuating the inequities that pervade our current structures.

Clyde Abrahamson, Development Manager, Spokane Indian Housing Authority, then presents a case study “Children of the Sun Solar Initiative” that highlights the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ vision to lower its carbon footprint, reduce energy cost and become more energy self-reliant.

Miquel Maestas. Housing and Economic Development Director, El Centro De La Raza, presents a case study of “The Center of People of All Races” that inspires us to design buildings that benefit the public.

Jamie Stroble, Co-Chair, Seattle Planning Commission; Founder & EJ Educator, Noio Pathways Capacity Building, presents examples of project-based considerations for climate, health and equity co-benefits.

A short, insightful panel discussion explores how the shift to reducing emissions influences equity, community health, and community wellbeing.

Just Transition - Upstream and Downstream Impacts of Decarbonization

Moderator Daniel Glenn, AIA, Principal, 7 Directions Architects/Planners and a Native American architect, sets the stage by posing the question: “How can building professionals and their clients respond to the impacts of decarbonization?”

Eileen V. Quigley, Executive Director of the Clean Energy Transition Institute, discusses applying the five pillars of deep decarbonization in Washington State to help accelerate the path to zero-carbon buildings.

Jonathan Heller, President, Ecotope, Inc. takes us on a deep dive into the world of electrification and illustrates how clean energy options were incorporated into several buildings in the Pacific Northwest.

Anyeley Hallova, an equity & sustainability-focused real estate developer, presents a case study of the Meyer Memorial Trust Headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and how the design and process helped achieve its aggressive equity and sustainability goals.

Just Transition - Building Equity, Now!

In this passionate keynote, Carlton Eley, Regional Equity Initiative Manager for the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, explores the groundswell of activity that is compelling communities to "find their true North." He explores equitable development as an approach for meeting the needs of underserved communities through projects, programs, and/or policies that reduce disparities while fostering places that are healthy, vibrant and diverse. As Mr. Eley explains, the equity challenge in the built environment rises above false choices, encourages curiosity and requires design professionals, planners, local governments and the public to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Mr. Eley is introduced by Rico Quirindongo, AIA, Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development, who emphasizes how we must keep equity, community health, economic stability, and social context in mind as we transition to a more sustainable built environment.

Density Done Right - Social Occupation

As architects, we have a responsibility to cities and the people who occupy them. In this 75-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, Lorcan O’Herhily, FAIA, passionately illustrates how his projects serve as a social act--a tool for engaging in politics, economics, aesthetics, and smart, sustainable growth. Lorcan shows how his firm’s recent work creating affordable, high-density housing promotes equity, human interaction and cultural evolution.

After watching this presentation, you will fully appreciate why Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects was recognized in 2018 as the #1 Design firm in the country by Architect magazine’s Architect 50.

Density Done Right - Minneapolis 2040: Race, Place and Equity

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, Paul Mogush and Heather Worthington discuss their work with the City of Minneapolis creating more affordable and accessible housing and creating living-wage jobs through zoning changes. The Minneapolis 2040 plan is one of the nation’s most progressive planning strategies for creating higher density transit-oriented districts and lowering traffic congestion.

Learn from two accomplished city planners how to create cities more resilient to the effect of climate change and diminishing natural resources, and how to create affordable strategies for improving access to healthy living activities and environments.

Density Done Right - The Roost: Micro Housing, Community and Cultural Space

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, David Neiman discusses his firm’s innovative designs that focus on livability, affordability, community, and access to housing for all. David then presents a case study of The Roost, an affordable micro-housing development that supports and strengthens Seattle's arts community, on which he served as both architect and developer. David illustrates how to overcome market constraints and achieve a 5-Star Built Green certification in this remarkably energy-efficient congregate housing development.

Density Done Right - Pax Futura: A High-Performance Community

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, designer and developer Sloan Ritchie of Cascade Built and designer Brittany Porter of Weber Thompson (formerly NK Architects) present Pax Futura, Seattle’s first certified multifamily passive house building. Learn how this 35-unit complex builds caters to music lovers, environmentally minded and socially conscious residents while building on the concepts of Passive Houses. This case study shows how to provide thermal comfort, energy-efficiency and lower moisture penetration through heat pumps, heat recovery systems, thermal bridging, computerized shading models and air barrier details.

Density Done Right - Othello Square

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, architect Carey Dagliano, LEED AP BD+C and landscape architect Rachael Meyer, GRP, LEED AP of Weber Thompson and Faduma Ahmed, MPA, of HomeSight present a fascinating case study of the community-based planning and design process of Othello Square, one Seattle’s most recent affordable housing projects. They discuss how this highly inspirational project helps restore the local ecology and provide healthier living to lower income residents.

By watching this course, you will learn how proactive community engagement empowers community stakeholders to inform, consult and collaborate to design more affordable and sustainable housing.

Density Done Right - Granny Pad & Big Mouth House

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, Ian Butcher, AIA, and Kailin Gregga, AIA, of Best Practice present case studies of affordable accessory dwelling units. The fun designs for Granny Pad, Big Mouth House, and DadPad illustration how micro units and accessory dwelling units can increase housing density, provide much needed affordable housing options, decrease carbon footprints and better accommodate the needs of an aging family member.

Density Done Right - Lightning Talks

In this series of “lightning talks” filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, seven planners, designers, architects and builders provide distinct strategies for creating more sustainable, livable and affordable urban residential developments and safe pedestrian corridors.

Twelve Years, Seven Houses, a Thousand Experiments

In this 75-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle's 2018 Housing Forum, Stephen Kieran, FAIA, LEED Fellow, shows his firm's artistry in six inspiring residential projects, including prefabricated high-performance solutions that are proving to be instrumental in changing the way the industry models, constructs and delivers housing.

In the final segment of this course, Stephen discusses his firm's research and involvement in Living Choices Homes and its quest to create affordable, solid and renewable housing to meet the demand projected for India's emerging middle class.

Housing Inspiration: Sawmill House and Karuna House

This 60-minute course, filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2018 Housing Forum, includes case studies on two inspirational residential projects.

First, Elizabeth Bianchi Conklin and Vikgram Sami of Olson Kundig present the Sawmill House, a net-zero, off-the-grid family retreat embedded in the tough, scrubby landscape in the harsh high desert of California. Sawmill harnesses the challenges and opportunities of its remote site, emphasizing sustainable strategies and reclaimed materials. The design was driven by a scavenger mentality, seeking always to do more with less, including using salvaged and recycled materials whenever possible.

Second, Cory Hawbecker of Holst Architecture presents the stunning Karuna House, an ambitious residential project designed to meet a combination of the world’s most demanding green building certifications. Built on a south facing slope overlooking the Willamette Valley’s rich agricultural land, Karuna House is the first MINERGIE-certified building in North America.

Housing Innovation: Case Studies

This three-part, 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2018 Housing Forum, showcases a series of highly innovative approaches to the housing industry.

First, Craig Curtis, FAIA, LEED AP, presents how Katerra is redefining the $1.3 trillion housing industry through offsite manufacturing and by optimizing every aspect of building design, materials supply and construction.

Susan Jones, FAIA, LEED BD+C, of atelierjones then showcases her high-performance CLT House, a modest 1,500 SF single-family home washed in light and full of the textures and smells of natural materials.

Elizabeth Golden and Rick Mohler of the University of Washington, along with Yasaman Esmali of modular housing start-up blokable, then showcase innovative multi-family solutions that can be integrated into single-family housing zones.

Making Room: Housing for a Changing America

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2018 Housing Forum, Chrysanthe Broikos, an architectural historian and curator, leads us through the Making Room: Housing for a Changing America exhibit at the National Building Museum and makes a compelling argument for a wider menu of housing options to respond to the diversity of households across the country.

Through images of the exhibit, Chrysanthe educates us about demographic trends, micro-units, shared housing and other concepts that appeal to multi-generational families.

Inspiration, Innovation, Impact: The Future of Residential Design

Eric Drivdahl (right) moderates a lively panel discussion with Craig Curtis, (Chief Architect, Katerra), Susan Jones, FAIA (Atelierjones), Stephen Kieran, FAIA, LEED Fellow (KieranTimberlake). Chrysanthe Broikos (Architectural Historian & Curator National Building Museum) and Rob Johnson (Seattle City Councilmember).

Among the topics: artificial intelligence, responding to rapid social change, housing prototypes, regional affordable housing policies, managing risk while embracing innovations, and lessons learned. Stephen Kieran ends the panel discussion with a moving story about how his own house has accommodated life-changes in his family.