The Wilder: Site Design

Throughout, the landscape is lush with an abundance of vegetation. On the roof, gathering spaces for four to five people include custom tropical hardwood benches, gas fireplaces, barbecues, and flexible seating. Trees and grasses arranged in terraced planters provide privacy for each gathering cluster while maintaining sight lines across the roof. Views to Downtown Seattle, Queen Anne, and sliver-views of the Space Needle remind tenants of the larger urban environment amid a serene, relaxing space.

The lower courtyard is central to the building, with interior units looking out into it. The brick, graffiti-covered wall of the existing, next-door building provides an inadvertently custom backdrop to the courtyard – another reminder of the urban environment within the comfortable interior of the building.

Angular benches maintain the playful, modern feel of the space. The shapes of the custom benches and walkway are amplified by LED lighting along the inside of the benches. At night, each seating node glows, connected by lighting along the pathway.

Significant stormwater requirements on the roof and in the courtyard led to necessary adjustments mid-design that increased the size of the planters.

Instead of defaulting to a standard stormwater planter, we worked with Revolve and the contractor to select metal containers that maintain the cozy feel of the space and allowed for integration of the benches for an intimate feel within the seating areas.

Structural considerations allow these planters to work both functionally and aesthetically, adding to the overall sense of relaxation and privacy. Plus, we were able to use the height differences introduced to the landscape’s advantage, leaning into the height differences by adding terrane, grade changes, and room for trees.

The street-level units along 13th Avenue have small, landscaped streetscapes that feel like private yards. Careful coordination with Revolve allowed us to incorporate lush plantings in these areas, including trees, despite shoring and utilities considerations in these areas.

It’s a delight to work with developers like Revolve, who are truly invested in the design of their buildings and who understand the value a custom-designed landscape experience can bring to multifamily living. Close collaboration and open communication throughout construction allowed us to problem-solve on the spot, which in turn allowed us to ensure the final design matched the original design intent. We look forward to watching these lush landscapes take root and grow.