g-projects

I first heard about Graham through a friend of a friend. We met for lunch, discovered we both love good food and sustainable building and so we developed a mutual respect. From my end, that has grown with the more I've learned about his work. This is my favorite local developer; for style, quality, sustainability and integrity.

g-projects describes itself as "contemporary homes with a conscience" (an understatement). Today I got to go tour a 7 unit project at 1911 E Pine, in the later stages of construction.

The project has a timeless quality, certainly modern and striking, but with a use of material and scale that reminds me of an urban village. It's hard to describe quickly to get the full sense of how amazing I think it is, and not just because Graham is one of my new favorite people (along with his wife, architect Brad and the whole crew).

The building's siding uses a varied mix of naturally stained, long, wood slats and large panels with strong color hues. The lumber was used for 70 years at Ft. Lewis, then salvaged and treated with a natural preservative, keeping this wood in prime use for another 70 years. They used varied widths on different walls, giving a playful texture to the vertical space. Reused bricks, 100 years old, provide a central walkway, with areas for congregation, rounded out by a good sized pea patch. I want to make friends here and have a party, it could hold its own for a small wedding (and you know my standards on that).

These are just the first two things you are immediately taken by. As you explore further, you'll find a sculptural, custom stair system, Paperstone counters, custom bamboo cabinetry, rain barrels, solar water, radiant heat, photovoltaic's, cork walls and fir walls with concealed doors into closets, pantries and even custom wine storage in one pre-sold unit. You'll look further up and see Strata bathrooms, light wells, steel stairs, chalk paint doors and green roofing alongside broad decks. These form a multistory front porch feel, with privacy maintained by varied levels and intelligent window placement.

This is community living, done to provide the nuances we travel abroad to experience. Check their rad website and find the grill that the in-house workers created. I've worked construction a bit and seen many more sites; never have I seen a community started before anyone even moves in. I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for this company that lives out what it believes.