Student Work

Course Description

GREENRIDGE HOUSING

Student: Cole Kelsey
Studio: ARCH 400 — Robert Humble — Fall 2025
Location: Seattle, Washington

Project Description

In Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood, the project responds to recent upzoning under the One Seattle Plan by reimagining how gentle density can be introduced into an existing residential block. The site—originally split between a fourplex and a duplex—offers a unique opportunity to add housing while preserving the character and greenery that define the neighborhood. Rather than replacing what exists, the design builds upon it, exploring how increased density can coexist with long-standing residential fabric.

GREENRIDGE HOUSING - Process Drawings — GREENRIDGE HOUSING – Process Drawings

At its core, the project balances growth with livability. The design increases housing capacity to help reduce cost per square foot while maintaining generous landscape areas that support neighborhood identity and environmental quality. A key feature is the integration of flexible interior systems: movable built-in closet dividers within townhouses and two-bedroom units allow residents to reconfigure spaces as their needs change over time. This adaptability supports a range of household types—from growing families to multi-generational living—without requiring structural renovation.

GREENRIDGE HOUSING - Basement and Floor 1 — GREENRIDGE HOUSING – Basement and Floor 1

The project is also rooted in long-term ownership flexibility for the client family, a local Seattle developer. By allowing multiple configurations of living arrangements across units, the design supports both rental and owner-occupied scenarios within the same footprint. The result is a housing model that embraces change—social, economic, and environmental—while keeping community character intact.

GREENRIDGE HOUSING - Interior Courtyard — GREENRIDGE HOUSING – Interior Courtyard

Images from GREENRIDGE HOUSING.