ROYAL II

The second installment in William / Kaven’s collection of custom homes embedded in Forest Park.

Unfolding in bands of transparency down a steeply sloped hillside, Royal II opens onto staggering views of one of the largest forested urban reserves in the United States. Terraced levels give way to a forest floor punctuated by towering Douglas firs and Alder. A simple material palette of dark steel, concrete, glass, and custom bronze-black cladding grounds the house within the surrounding treescape, while an encircling green roof further blurs the distinction between architecture and forest.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing suffuses the entire interior of the house with natural light throughout the day, including the attached oversized garage / fitness area, which is backed by a full wall of windows framing breathtaking views. Overhanging balconies and a dramatically cantilevered main floor help to diffuse harsh rays and provide respite from inclement weather.

Upon entry at Royal II, a light-soaked observatory overlooks a lush green roof, seamlessly leading the eye out into the dense forest. A steel screen at the entrance to the observatory, custom designed in-house, offers a glimpse of the central stair core and skylight, which brings a shaft of light clear down through the main level to the lowest floor. Furnished with custom seating designed by William / Kaven and encased by expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, the observatory level is intended as both a foyer for greeting guests and a space to enjoy moments of personal relaxation and contemplation, setting the tone for the home as a whole.

FLOOR TO CEILING GLASS THROUGHOUT
GREEN ROOF
CUSTOM WHITE OAK CABINETRY
WALNUT INLAY DETAILING ON FLOORS
OPEN FLOOR PLAN
FOREST VIEWS FROM EVERY ROOM

OBSERVATORY WITH CUSTOM FURNITURE
NEARBY HIKING TRAILS
CENTRAL SKYLIGHT
LARGE KITCHEN PANTRY
DAYLIGHT BASEMENT OPENS ONTO TERRACE
VIEWS OF MT. BAKER

The natural tones of the white oak floors, quartz countertops, porcelain bathroom tiles, and crisp, white walls combine to create a light and airy counterpoint to the dark drama of the home’s exterior. Throughout the home, the use of neutral colors and simple materials foregrounds the palette of dark greens and browns of the woods beyond the windows. On the floors, thin inlaid walnut borders subtly delineate the different living areas of the open plan and add a classic touch to the modern interior.

Royal II’s main level features a large, cantilevered living room with oak floors, kitchen and dining areas with built-in custom cabinetry, and the primary bedroom suite, which opens onto a private sun deck. Throughout this level, views of the lush forest floor, looming trees, and Mount Baker’s snow-covered peak are framed by generous glazing, evoking an experience of midair suspension. This room opens onto a terrace with an al fresco dining area and seating arranged around a substantial concrete fire table.

The home’s daylight basement, which is partially embedded into the site’s steep slope, is flooded with light from the stair core skylight and east-facing window walls. Off the den, a large ground-level terrace abuts a filtration planter that forms part of the concrete retaining wall and contributes to the home’s water reuse system.

Royal II has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Architect Magazine, Global Design News, and Portrait Magazine, and has received a 2023 International Design Award, a 2023 Future House Award, and a 2023 Architecture MasterPrize Honorable Mention.