SIX TOP

Tacoma, WA

This group of six attached homes will add more housing in a category known as the “missing middle” providing more choices and diverse types of housing in Tacoma. The project site near the intersection of MLK and South 19th is part of the Hilltop Mixed Use Center and will be a short walk from the Tacoma Link light rail extension.

In developing the design for these homes, special attention was given to often overlooked aspects of townhouse design: functional storage and access to outdoor space.

The top of each unit features an occupiable roof deck and vegetated green roof accessed by a stair from the third level which contains two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The middle level hosts the kitchen and main living spaces, and the ground floor is designed as a flex space that could function as an in-law suite, guest room, family room, library, or home office. The ground level of the street facing units has a more open floor plan than the side-facing units to encourage streetscape activation via live-work arrangements. Each townhouse has a secondary entry accessing through a storage area sized generously enough for bicycles, BBQs, or other outdoor gear.

The exterior design features subtle textural and tonal contrasts. Horizontal cedar siding accents the painted cement fiber board shingles and panels.