Midcentury Innis Arden home designed by Ralph Anderson

Designed by iconic local architect Ralph Anderson, 16720 15th Ave. NW is a midcentury residence that represents his expertise on the interplay between structure and site. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home was built in 1958 and offers just over 3,000 square feet. Nestled on a hillside in northwest Seattle’s Innis Arden neighborhood, the home overlooks Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

Inside, the design expertly juxtaposes dramatic ceiling heights, organic contours and wood and stone elements with the surrounding natural beauty. The character-filled property celebrates the Pacific Northwest through the extensive use of materials like mica stone, terrazzo tile and fir framing, while walls of windows bring some of the region’s most noteworthy landscapes to your doorstep. The second-floor main level boasts incredible—and protected—westerly views of the water and mountains, and that view extends onto the giant elevated deck accessible via the dining room.

All three bedrooms of this split-level home are located off one hallway and each features outdoor access and tall ceilings lined with exposed beams. The primary bedroom sits at the end of the hall, in a cozy, private corner of the house, covered along two walls by floor-to-ceiling windows. A half floor down, there’s a flex-use family room with built-in bar, a three-fourths bathroom, laundry room and ample storage space.

Known as “the father of Pioneer Square,” Ralph Anderson is remembered for kickstarting the revitalization of that neighborhood in the 1960s. A protégé of fellow Seattle architect Paul Hayden Kirk, he helped establish the Northwest Style of modernist architecture. Over the years, Anderson restored historically significant buildings throughout the region. He also designed, built and remodeled many midcentury residential properties.