Anchorage Daily News

What do a home near Westchester Lagoon, another home in Turnagain's new Atwood Estates subdivision and a third home on the Hillside have in common? All three homes were the focus of the Architecture Tour sponsored by International Gallery of Contemporary Art and the Alaska Design Forum on Saturday. Think of it as a smaller, more intimate Parade of Homes, but with only about 50 people.

This small group toured by bus, a great way to save gas and talk to others about the properties between stops. However, unlike the Parade of Homes, which is all about new construction, this tour included a remodeled home. Yet each home was truly different and unique.

What made the remodeled home so interesting? It showed the possibilities of what can be done with a typical 1950s vintage home without completing removing the house. The design is still a ranch-style home over a basement, tucked behind trees and shrubs. However, the architect resisted the urge to add a second level, and so was challenged to squeeze every bit of allowable space within the municipality's maximum coverage regulations. If one of the goals was to maintain some of its original character, the architect succeeded.

Once the outside construction evidence is removed, you might not even notice the home as you pass by. The exterior changes are subtle. The only remarkable things from the outside are the extra large covered entry or the light scoop. The light scoop projects above the roof and has three skylights on the west side and a window on the south side to funnel light into the north-facing living room. But look closer.

Then you will notice the vertical cedar with the re-sawn (rough) side exposed and painted with the semisolid stain; this creates an unusual multicolor and textured look. Next to notice are more windows (and of different sizes) than you would expect.

The real change shows up inside -- a wide-open interior with a few strategically placed narrow steel posts to compensate for removed walls. Now you realize the effect of the larger windows that allow greater light into the home. The huge uplifted light scoop shaft visually compensates for other lower ceiling height areas typical when the house was built.

The second home, in the gated Atwood Estates Subdivision, was only framed and still left a lot for the imagination. However, numerous large windows seemed to draw the surrounding mature trees right into the home. What will be truly spectacular is the roof-top garden. What a great spot for city views and sunsets. An added benefit will be the anticipated mosquito-free zone created by the height. This brings a whole new meaning to deck parties and social gatherings. Eventually, an elevator will provide easy access to the multiple levels -- even to the roof.

The final house of the tour was finished except for minor details like handrails. The defining feature of this Hillside home was the numerous glass walls that brought nature and windows into the ultimate symmetry. Any closer and you would be living outside. Unpretentious on the exterior, only two things attract your eye. The first is the huge light shaft (clerestory per the architect), which rises another level above almost the entire kitchen, and is actually at the center of a rooftop garden. There were so many healthy edibles and perennials in containers that the rooftop looked landscaped. The second attraction is opaque garage doors that allow light in or out, while still maintaining privacy. This new-construction house took advantage of the incredible view to the west with a wall of glass. However, windows didn't stop there. Window walls lined the entry and bedrooms, but so well placed that you felt nestled, not exposed.

Overall the tour allowed people to see the diversity of Anchorage from downtown, Midtown and Hillside within minutes. It is exciting to see that as Anchorage begins to mature, our architecture is maturing as well.

Clair and Barbara Ramsey are local associate brokers specializing in residential real estate. Their column appears every fourth Friday. Their e-mail address is info@ramseyteam.com.

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