Awards
2007 AIA/National Housing Award, for 'One/Two Family Production Housing', Danielson Grove. The Housing Awards program recognizes the best in housing design in the country. There were only 19 winners out of a record 236 submissions. . These awards promote the importance of housing as a necessity of life and a sanctuary for the human spirit.
2007 Residential Architect Design Award, for 'Single Family Detached Housing',
Danielson Grove. There were 886 entries submitted and only 29 winners chosen.
2005 AIA Housing Committee Awards, 'Single-Family Market', Greenwood Avenue Cottages. “This is a great use of space, especially for single people...feels like a country cottage.”
2005-06 AIA/Sunset Magazine Honor Award, 'Cottage Neighborhood', Conover Commons.
“The design makes a tight and challenging site feel larger through the thoughtful arrangement of well-scaled, colorful, friendly buildings and a carefully designed green court. The result is a memorable place with opportunities for community interaction.”
2005 AIA/Seattle Knowledge by Design Case Study Prize “...for design knowledge shared” with the Greenwood Avenue Cottages.
Publications
Pocket Neighborhoods
Cottage Living magazine Apr/08 story entitled "A Cottage Neighborhood in the Scale of Life" about pocket neighborhoods and our contribution in designing several projects, including Third Street Cottages and Umatilla Hill.
Metropolis magazine Apr/08 article entitled "Pocket Pads" discusses pocket neighborhoods and specifically Umatilla Hill.
Portland Spaces magazine ran a story on Salish Ponds in Jan/2008. The story is entitled "Pocket Village".
Salish Ponds neighborhood is featured in The Oregonian in Jan/2008.
The Seattle Times ran a story entitled "Clustered in Kirkland" about the Danielson Grove neighborhood.
Celebrating the American Home, 50 Great Houses from 50 American Architects, a Taunton book, devotes a chapter to the Third Street Cottages.
The Christain Science Monitor ran a story in April, 2007 called "Incredible Shrinking Houses", which discusses the popular trend to smaller homes and cottages.
In the Mar/2007 issue of Seattle Magazine, The Green Guide, Conover Commons featured as a leading local example for green neighborhood developments.
Builder magazine did two stories about building small and living large. The Nov/2006 story entitled "Tight Squeeze" highlights Danielson Grove and Conover Commons. The second story, "Just Right", came out in the Dec/2006 issue and features the Third Street Cottages.
The Nov/2006 issue of Northwest Home+Garden magazine honored the region's hottest residential architects in 2006. Ross is singled out for his effort in designing "smart-and-small neighborhoods."
In 10/2006, the Puget Sound Business Journal magazine published an article entitled "Not So Big". Lifestyle, quality and comforts of cottage living in Danielson Grove described by a couple who purchased a home in the community.
Residential Architect magazine wrote a cover story about Ross Chapin Architects named "Change Agent " in Jan/2006. The photo-filled article speaks to Ross's vision for sensibly-sized and thoughtfully detailed cottage neighborhoods.
"Instructions for Everyday Life" is the title of an article in ReadyMade magazine covering the Third Street Cottages.
Fine Homebuilding magazine. 4/1/2005. "Simple, But Not Plain." An article written by Ross describing the Gable House built in Amherst, Mass.
Cottage Living magazine ran a story about the Greenwood Avenue Cottages titled Sharing Common Ground by Jim Tolpin.
Our Greenwood Avenue Cottages are featured in Sarah Susanka's Home by Design, a Taunton Press book that brings attention to ways a house becomes a nurturing home.
Greenwood Avenue Cottages receive beautiful coverage in the book, Blueprint Small, by Michelle Kodis and published by Gibbs Smith.
The Jan/2003 issue of Builder magazine, the official journal of the National Association of Home Builders features our Greenwood Avenue Cottages project.
Greenwood Avenue Cottages were also a major feature in an article debating "monster houses" in the American Planning Association's May/2002 Planning magazine.
The Greenwood Avenue Cottages are also featured in the Seattle Times (6/9/02) in an article on "Housing in the Northwest" as part of a story on AIA-selected 'best projects'.
Solving Sprawl, Models for Smart Growth in Communities Across America, National Resources Defense Council (2001) features our work in the context of a trend across the U.S. to make more livable communities.
National Association of Homebuilders production on livable small houses, HGTV cable channel (#611, 4/29/01)
Sunset magazine featured our Backyard Neighborhood in the
The Everett Herald (Washington State) had a full page feature entitled "Cottage Industry" in the November 25, 2001, about the recent work that we've been doing around cottage housing. This article has since been published in syndicated newspapers all over the US.
Media interest in the Third Street Cottages has been strong, with features in numerous national publications and broadcast media.
"A New Bungalow Courtyard" appeared in the Annual Houses issue of Fine Homebuilding magazine in Spring/Summer 2000. One of the best articles on the project, with plans and details of several houses.
Third Street Cottages is featured prominently in Creating the Not So Big House, by Sarah Susanka (Taunton).
Metropolitan Home, "Cottage Industry", March/April 2000.
The 21st Century Home television program, HGTV cable channel (#406, 11/02/99).
"Rooms with a Point of View", Pacific Northwest magazine of the Seattle Times, by Jennifer Haupt (10/17/99).
Sunset magazine featured the TSC three times in 1999. Clearly, they liked it.
"Best New Neighborhood of the West" February 1999
"Living Large in a Cottage" April 1999
"Honor Award", AIA/Sunset Western Home Awards issue
"Thinking Small, Living Large" Knight Ridder News Service syndicated article by Judy Hammond:, July/ 1999. This article was picked up by dozens of metropolitan newspapers around the country.
AIA/Sunset Honor Awards, one-hour special, HGTV cable channel (xx/xx/99).
"Community by Design", New Times interview with Ross Chapin, November/1997. This early interview with Ross covers the bases on the inspiration and the key elements that make it work.
Great Small Houses
The Gable House struck a chord with many people as the archetype of home. It was on the cover of Fine Homebuilding Houses Issue, No. 94, in both of Susanka's Not So Big House books, and in More Small Houses (Taunton Press).
Dine's Point House is part of The Distinctive Home, a Taunton book by Jeremiah Eck on principals of good residential design.
In Duo Dickinson's book, The House You Build (Taunton Press, 2004), a chapter is devoted to our Morgan Hill House. "This is comfort architecture that accommodates a lively adaptation of familiar forms to the lifestyles of 21st-century families."
"An Artist's Cabin" is featured in Dale Mulfinger's book, The Cabin, Taunton Press, 2001.
Creating the Not So Big House Taunton Press, 2000, by Sarah Susanka (www.NotSoBigHouse.com). This one make's it clear and adds momentum to the movement. Features a full chapter each on our Gable House and Third Street Cottages. A Must-Read.
"A Duplex with a Rooftop Garden" Fine Homebuilding, issue 106. A fun design on a challenging site featuring a wonderful roof terrace. Also in More Small Houses (Taunton Press)
"Comfort and Delight on a Low Mortgage" Fine Homebuilding, issue 116. A delightful design on a tight budget
"A Forest Home on the Trail" The New Cottage Home (Taunton Press, 1998) by Jim Tolpin. This is our magical Three Gable House.
More Small Houses Taunton Press, 1998. This book features the FHB articles listed above.
The Not So Big House, Taunton Press, 1998, by Sarah Susanka (www.NotSoBigHouse.com). This book opened people's eyes. Has photos of our "Gable House"
Our Aldermarsh House is featured in Patterns of Home, a Taunton Press book highlighting the essential concepts that shape and define a nurturing home. Aldermarsh was also in Sunset magazine, May/1991.
"When Buying a Home, think Smaller" United Press Syndicate by Michael Walsh. This article discussing the smaller-house movement was picked up by many newspapers around the country. It featured photos and a story of our Gable House and is on the web—click the title.
GoodFit House Plans
The New York Times ran a story on July 6, 2007, which discusses the value of stock house plans and highlights our Ross Chapin Architects GoodFit house plans.
Interior Design Ideas
Kidspaces (Taunton Press, 2001) by Wendy Jordon. Shows a cozy bedspace & loft that Ross built for his daughter, a "secret door" entrance to a boy's room, a "bookcase stairway", and a teenager's suite.
Built In Furniture (Taunton Press, 1998) by Jim Tolpin. Showing unique built-storage under a stairway. —click Towerhouse to see more pictures of the house.
Budget Realities
Fine Homebuilding, Issue 94, page 24, "Keys to Meeting a Budget", an article written by Ross Chapin outlining the roles of the owner, architect/designer, and contractor, and the critical need for teamwork among them to meet a budget.