| Historic Name: |
Royvue Garden |
Common Name: |
Royvue Garden |
| Style: |
Tudor |
Neighborhood: |
Capitol Hill |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1924 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). |
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This garden apartment building is unusual for the size of its rear garden, enclosed by the U-shaped structure. It was designed in 1924 by architect Charles Haynes for Willis and Guy Bergman, who owned the nearby La Crosse apartments. It originally had 33 apartments (later increased to 34); 26 of them are larger-than-average, with 4 or 5 rooms. It had features such as oak floors, tile baths and refrigeration.
This is a particularly elegant and relatively early example of the many apartment buildings constructed in the 1920s, when Seattle experienced a major construction boom. The city's population had increased dramatically in previous decades, and prosperity encouraged developers to meet the pent-up demand for housing. Apartments, ranging from basic housing to luxury units, were a significant factor in meeting this need, and became a major element of the streetscape in many Seattle neighborhoods. The West Capitol Hill had easy streetcar access to downtown and the street was lined with small apartment buildings, often using fine materials and detailing.
Charles A. Haynes practiced architecture in Seattle and Aberdeen, with various partners, from 1907 until 1940. He designed many residences, apartment houses and commercial buildings in both cities. One of the best known local examples of his work is the former Butterworth Mortuary on East Pine Street.
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| Appearance |
| This unusual building has a U-shaped plan opening toward the rear, enclosing a large landscaped garden (100 feet wide and 50 feet deep). A row of individual garages is at the end of the garden, below the grade of the garden and stepping along the hillside. The building is clad with red brick with terra cotta detailing including the water table and two pairs of narrow belt courses between the first and second stories and above the third story. The gabled parapet has terra cotta coping, shield medallions in the gable ends and diamond-shaped medallions in each bay. The entry s notable, with an arched doorway and an elaborate terra cotta surround with Tudor motifs. The archway has a decorative wrought iron gate, through which one can see through to the garden. Quatrefoils adorn the spandrels between the second and third stories. The bays at the corners have shield medallions in in the upper spandrels. Windows have terra cotta sills and, in some bays, labels above them. Newer vinyl sash has replaced the original 10-over-1 and 6-over-one sash. Some windows have lower 6-light casement sash, with large pointed arch transoms. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Brick |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Flat with Parapet |
Roof Material(s): |
Unknown |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Multiple Family |
Plan: |
U-Shape |
| Structural System: |
Balloon Frame/Platform Frame |
No. of Stories: |
three |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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Changes to Windows: |
Moderate |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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Shaping Seattle Architecture: A Historical Guide to the Architects. Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, ed. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994.
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King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972.
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City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development, Microfilm Records.
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