Property of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Putnam, Bellevue, Seattle | Architect: Paul Hayden Kirk

8/27/2025 12:31:00 PM

On their sloping site in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Mr. and Mrs. John E. Putnam wanted a house with a sleek contemporary look. They enjoy entertaining their friends and wanted the right background for it. They also wanted their two small children to have both freedom to roam and privacy. The house shown here is the architect's handsome answer to the Putnams' wishes and the site's demands. By devising an L-shaped plan, he provided a separate wing for the children, well isolated from the adults' rooms, and, at the same time, space for a large garden terrace was created on the front portion of the site. This terrace is not only convenient to the living room but is also shaded by it from summer's late afternoon sun. Because Mr. and Mrs. Putnam were eager to take full advantage of the view of Lake Washington to the west, the roof slopes downward to a generous overhang on this side, thereby shading the living-dining-kitchen wing.

The approach to the Putnams' front entrance is along a graceful covered walk parallel to the carport and children's wing. Sliding shoji panels opposite the doorway divide the entrance hall and the dining room. At the left is the living room, with glass walls at both ends. A massive fireplace wall of native stone separates the living and dining rooms. The master bedroom-bath is off the hall, adjacent to the children's rooms. From their rooms, the children have handy access to a stairway descending to a large playroom at ground level and a lawn at the rear. Throughout the house, sturdy but handsome materials are used. The exterior walls are vertical red cedar 1 x 4s stained coffee brown; solid walls of the living room are sen wood. In the entrance hall and living room, floor is irregularly patterned slate: other floors are vinyl or asphalt tile.

Garden terrace is skillfully designed to reflect the contemporary spirit of the house itself. Large contrasting slabs of smooth concrete and pebble-textured aggregate. together with the rectangular pool, form a striking geometric pattern. The front entrance is at far end of covered walk. To obscure the terrace as guests approach the entrance, the walk is partially enclosed by opaque glass panels. At the rear of the terrace, crossing a shallow moat, is a wood bridge which connects the terrace and living-dining wing. To make the most of the site's colorful madrona trees on either side of covered walk, the house was planned in an L-shape.