The Ondine represents a significant milestone for the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle, both in terms of scale and design innovation. As the first apartment building following the city’s MHA upzone in this lakeside neighborhood, Ondine is more than just a residential development—it is a deliberate response to the community, character, and history of its surroundings. The building's design reflects a blend of modern architectural principles with deep respect for the neighborhood's existing aesthetic, making it a standout project in the cityscape.

Architectural Excellence and Neighborhood Integration

Ondine Eastlake was conceived as a breakthrough project, intended to set a new standard for urban multifamily design in Seattle, in particular in the Eastlake neighborhood. This intention is evident in the material palette on its front and rear facades, each thoughtfully designed to engage with the surrounding neighborhood. The facades present a striking urban frontage visible along Eastlake Avenue, a busy arterial street that connects the Amazon Campus to the University of Washington and the adjacent alley. Together, these facades create a dialogue between the building and its surroundings, standing out in the diverse character of Eastlake and its nearby structures.

One of the most distinctive elements of Ondine Eastlake is its use of shou sugi ban wood as an exterior cladding material. This Japanese technique of charring wood not only provides a unique aesthetic but also enhances the wood's durability and resistance to fire, insects, and decay. The decision to use shou sugi ban was not merely aesthetic; it was a deliberate nod to a significant commercial structure next door that is clad in beautifully aged dark brown wood cladding. This thoughtful integration of new and old elements creates a sense of continuity within the neighborhood, respecting its immediate context while introducing a fresh, contemporary architectural language.

Collaborative Design and Execution

The design of Ondine Eastlake exterior was led by two young, emerging professionals who brought fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the project. Their vision was brought to life through a collaborative process involving more experienced architects and consultants, ensuring that the design was not only creative but also practical and buildable. This blend of fresh voices and seasoned expertise allowed the project to push the boundaries of conventional apartment design while maintaining a high standard of quality and execution.

The concept of "screens", inspired by the adjacent commercial structure, is a recurring theme in the building’s design, both as a functional element and an aesthetic one. The shou sugi ban texture, interrupted by contrasting vertical red strips and large windows and doors is inspired by the screens of the adjacent commercial structure. Varied levels of charred wood combined with black and red vertical strips. enhance the building’s overall visual appeal, making it an attractive addition to the Eastlake streetscape.

A Purpose-Driven Design for Community Benefit

Beyond its aesthetic qualities, Ondine Eastlake was designed with a clear purpose: to enhance the quality of life for its residents while contributing positively to the neighborhood. The building includes a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, catering to a diverse range of residents from off campus student living to young professionals to small families. A large covered roof deck and a ground floor common room are amenities that are thoughtfully integrated into the design, providing spaces for social interaction and community building and opening fantastic views of Lake Union and Downtown Seattle.

The Ondine Eastlake Apartments stand as a testament to what can be achieved when thoughtful design is coupled with a deep understanding of place and purpose. As the first apartment building of its height in the Eastlake neighborhood, it proposes a new standard for mixed-use residential development, combining architectural innovation with a respect for community and context. The collaboration between young designers and seasoned professionals, along with a focus on sustainability and neighborhood integration, has resulted in a project that is both visually striking and thoughtfully integrated into its surroundings.

Our Principal, Brad Khouri, has been appointed Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of Washington's Department of Architecture for the 2025–2026 academic year. This appointment recognizes his over two decades of dedication to architectural education and his significant contributions to urban housing design.​

Since 2003, Brad has served as a part-time lecturer at UW, teaching a diverse range of studios across undergraduate, graduate, and thesis levels. His courses often focus on the intersection of design innovation, policy, sustainability, and residential development, reflecting his professional expertise in infill urban housing. Notably, he co-led a research studio investigating housing density and equity, where students collaborated on design projects in specific Seattle neighborhoods.

In his new role, Brad will continue to teach the Housing Studio in Fall 2025, guiding students through the complexities of multifamily urban housing design. His ongoing involvement in both academia and professional practice ensures that students benefit from real-world insights and contemporary design challenges.

Samples of the work generated by the students of the 2024/2025 Architecture 503 Studio

Earlier this year, Multidisciplinary Artist, Paul Rucker, spoke at a TED Salon about Cary Forward, an upcoming museum displaying his collection of historical artifacts and images. Here’s the full video.

b9 architects is proud to announce a collaboration with the renowned multidisciplinary artist Paul Rucker on a transformative museum project, Cary Forward. This innovative museum will serve as a powerful platform to spotlight artifacts of oppression, shedding light on parts of history that have been largely omitted from mainstream narratives. Designing a new museum, b9 architects and Paul Rucker will convert an existing structure on a site on Cary Street in Richmond, Virginia. The museum will be a space that not only honors the past but also inspires dialogue, education, and change.

The Vision: Uncovering Hidden Histories

Paul Rucker is a multimedia visual artist, composer, and musician. His practice often integrates live performance, original musical compositions, and visual art installation. For nearly two decades, Rucker has used his own brand of art making as a social practice, which illuminates the legacy of enslavement in America and its relationship to the current socio-political moment. His work is the product of a rich interactive process, through which he investigates community impacts, human rights issues, historical research, and basic human emotions. The museum's collection will include items that represent moments and movements often ignored by conventional historical narratives. From the atrocities of slavery to the resilience of civil rights activists, the museum will provide a comprehensive look at the artifacts of oppression that have shaped the nation's social and cultural landscape. Issues such as genocide, enslavement, incarceration, and coordinated exclusion will be presented in this space. This project is not just about preserving history but also about confronting it—ensuring that these important stories are not forgotten.

“These are things that we didn’t know about growing up as kids. My mom wanted to protect me from learning about Emmet Till—even though we all need to know about Emmett Till.”

— Paul Rucker

The building as it exists today.

The proposed design, closed.

The proposed design, open.

The Role of b9 architects

b9 architects brings to this project a deep commitment to excellence in design, client collaboration, and engagement with local neighborhood groups. Known for our innovative designs and focus on creating spaces that foster connection and community, we are excited to help realize Rucker's vision for the museum.

In this partnership, b9 is working directly with Paul to design a series of gallery and support spaces that are both welcoming and provocative. An early goal for the project, we want the space to be carefully crafted to reflect the themes of the exhibits—using materials, light, and spatial organization to evoke the complex emotions associated with the artifacts on display. Transitioning into the gallery, the visitor will leave behind the life on Cary Street and confront a number of artifacts and imagery. The space will house artifacts from Rucker’s collection of more than 20,000 items of American history and offer visitors opportunities to connect their everyday experiences with visiting artists and scholars and a corps of traveling docents who will lead dynamic community-centered programs. Regular offerings will include exhibitions, public programs, a banned-book library, digital archives, publications and onsite print and podcast studios.

In an article announcing Paul’s first step toward actualizing Cary Forward, artnet describes Paul as “a fount of racial history, talking off the cuff about largely forgotten incidents like the 1898 coup d’état in Wilmington, North Carolina, which saw white supremacists violently overthrow the locally elected government of Black business and their white political allies.” Cary Forward will fill in the margins of the historical record with Paul’s extensive collection of evidential artifacts. We at b9 architects are excited to be a small part of this revolutionary project.