Danny Presents: A Floating Home Designed By George Suyama

Designed by George Suyama, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most revered architects and brought to life by the acclaimed firm Krekow Jennings, this is one of Seattle’s most distinctive floating homes—a rare harmony of design and craftsmanship. Its sun-filled, south-facing slip near the end of Westlake’s premier dock offers views of Downtown and Gas Works Park. Gracefully extended into the channel, the glass-wrapped sunroom creates a unique view corridor into Lake Union, blurring the boundaries between indoors & out. A flat roof with ladder access offers 360-degree views and exciting potential for a full rooftop deck. Quintessential Seattle living awaits—just a short stroll from both Downtown and Fremont. Gated entry, ~45’ x 8.5’ boat moorage and city parking for residents.

A Floating Masterpiece

Designed by George Suyama—one of Seattle’s most influential architects—this floating home is a masterclass in Northwest modernism, subtly infused with Japanese aesthetics. For this home, Suyama embraced a guiding principle: blurring the line between indoors and out. Precisely placed windows, sliding glass doors, and layered decks frame Lake Union at every turn, while thoughtful and restrained detailing preserve privacy and intimacy. Built as a single piece of architectural casework by Krekow Jennings—one of the region’s most celebrated builders—the home embodies meticulous craftsmanship and structural honesty. Exposed beam-and-column connections showcase precision-cut Douglas Fir meeting rounded columns, anchored with hand-finished steel bolts. The result marries strength with sculptural simplicity, softening the geometry while turning functional joints into refined architectural moments.

Rare, custom metalwork by acclaimed artisan David Gulassa whose portfolio includes the Bellevue Art Museum, Chapel of St. Ignatius, and Washington State WWII Memorial elevates the home’s design with:

• A beautifully engineered steel plinth beneath the open staircase, serving as a striking sculptural focal point.
• Parchment-like, pewter-clad panels separating the entry from the main living space one fixed, one sliding for privacy.
• Custom-forged steel ceiling rails originally engineered for a projector, now a bold architectural feature that adds industrial elegance to the warmth of Douglas fir.
• Elemental iron panels forming a dramatic backdrop for the fireplace. Low-voltage, adjustable scene lighting to highlight art and set the mood with subtle precision.

Among the most distinctive floating homes on Lake Union, this residence reflects Suyama’s hallmark style: understated yet powerful, finely crafted, and deeply connected to the natural environment. Timeless in design and exceptional in execution, it is unmatched in its connection to place.

Sun, Skyline, and the Sparkle of Lake Union

With a footprint that subtly extends into the channel, this home claims a rare vantage point—its open view corridor into Lake Union giving it the feel of a near end-of-dock location. Bathed in southern light, it sits on a wide channel capturing water and skyline views that shift with the day.

Here, indoor and outdoor living merge effortlessly. The living room is wrapped in three walls of glass, dissolving boundaries and framing an ever-changing waterscape. In the primary suite, French doors open to a covered deck with dazzling city vistas, while a bamboo-planted courtyard garden, open to the sky yet enclosed for privacy, infuses the space with light and tranquility.

Outdoor living unfolds across five decks and balconies, each crafted from Apatong wood, a material prized for its natural water resistance and storied use on fishing boats. The stainless-steel swim ladder invites spontaneous dips into the lake, while a steel ladder leads to the roof—perfect for stargazing, panoramic city views, and front-row seats to the 4th of July fireworks. The roof’s structure is engineered to support a future rooftop deck, offering the possibility of 360° views over lake and city alike.

Home Features

• Graceful clear-fir trim in the hallway recalls the form of traditional Shinto torii gates Living room glass doors slide open on both sides to covered decks, blurring the line between indoors and out.
• Primary bedroom with built-in headboard, platform bed, and low dresser with shelving—plus abundant storage in drawers beneath the bed, additional dressers, and two large closets.
• Two large bathrooms, one with a walk-in shower plus two sinks and one with a full-sized bathtub.
• The second bedroom features two large closets with clear-fir finishes and beautiful detailing, clerestory windows, and fir-and-glass french doors opening to a balcony with lake views and ladder access to the roof.
• Rais Danish wood stove in the living room—an airtight, wood-burning stove with oven and hot top—sits on a handsome slate hearth with an elegant backdrop, warming both body and spirit.
• Two outside storage closets for large miscellaneous items, tools, and enough space for a winter’s worth of firewood.
• Large gourmet kitchen with quarter-cut oak cabinetry, Sub-Zero paneled refrigerator, Wolf oven, induction cooktop, microwave and island workspace with sink.
• 250-bottle, temperature-controlled wine storage cabinet.
• Two large pantry units hidden behind sliding doors.
• Spacious laundry room (8′ x 8′) with an ironing center, built-in cabinets, ample storage, and space for full-size washer and dryer.
• 200-amp electrical service and natural gas available on the dock. Recent home and dive inspections confirm the home’s excellent condition throughout.

Parking

Of the four Seattle neighborhoods with floating homes, Westlake by far offers the best parking, with over 1.3 miles of street parking stretching from South Lake Union to the Fremont Bridge. Within Westlake, the stretch of parking just outside this dock offers the most resident-friendly setup, with 17+ city spaces reserved exclusively for Westlake residents (Zone 25 parking permit) between 9 AM and 5 PM (Monday-Friday). This is a rare privilege, as most of Westlake’s city parking is either unrestricted or allows non-residents to park for up to 2 hours.

What makes this stretch even more unique is that it is the only one-way section and the dock sits at its far end, so few non-residents venture this way when looking for parking, keeping availability consistently high for residents.

Each household can obtain Zone 25 resident permits for up to four vehicles at a cost of just $95 every two years, per vehicle. Also, one guest hangtag and up to 50 single-day guest passes annually are available. Close to the resident-only parking area are a 30-minute load/unload zone, motorcycle-only parking, and some disabled-only parking spaces.

Boat Moorage

This floating home includes two boat slips. On the East side of the home is a dedicated slip measuring approximately 45 by 8.5 feet — ideal for keeping your vessel right at your doorstep. In addition, the South slip in front of the home, located in the channel, offers temporary moorage (great for guests!). It measures 25’+.

Plenty of additional boat slips are available nearby—including options on this dock and at neighboring marinas. The co-op owns two 27′ boat slips that are available to lease for $400/month and $500/month on an annual basis. Priority is given to resident floating home owners.

There are approximately a dozen slips at the head of the dock, in various sizes, which can be leased from the owners of the adjacent commercial building and marina. There are other marinas on Westlake such as Boat World Marina just south of the dock, that offer boat slips for lease.

One of Westlake’s Premier Floating Home Docks

Tucked behind a mature sidewalk greenbelt and marked by a handcrafted metal gate in Northwest Native style, this small, well-managed co-op dock offers both seclusion and community. The entry is nearly hidden from the street, with no visibility of the homes beyond—yet life here is vibrant, with regular social gatherings and an easy camaraderie among neighbors.

Set along a sunny, wide-water channel, generous setbacks between homes enhance light, privacy, and views, while offering an ideal swimming spot and easy passage for residents’ boats. The extra-wide dock walkway—about ten feet—makes it the widest on Lake Union and a natural venue for community gatherings. The dock’s walkway is of the floating type, which rises and falls with Lake Union’s water levels, keeping the walkway perfectly aligned with the homes for effortless, step-free access year-round. Plus, the dock’s utilities are routed beneath the dock to preserve open-water views.

In addition to the private moorage many homes on this dock enjoy, the co-op also owns two additional large-boat slips—making it one of the few in Seattle to offer rentable moorage, with priority given to residents.
The dock’s location itself is ideal—midway up Westlake, this dock offers beautiful sightlines toward Gas Works Park across the water and sits just far enough from the busy southern marinas to feel serene, yet still within walking distance of both Fremont to the north and South Lake Union to the south.

HOA dues are just $650 per month, which include water, sewer, garbage, and dock maintenance, insurance, and property taxes. Plus, there are no major expenses on the horizon and pets are welcomed. No wonder neighbors here feel so lucky to call this dock home.

Welcome to Westlake

Tucked along the quiet western shore of Lake Union, Westlake is one of Seattle’s most iconic and desirable neighborhoods for floating home living—active, water-oriented, and steeped in charm. The neighborhood’s real allure lies in its vibrant community, deep connection to the water, and effortless blend of city energy with lakefront tranquility.

Westlake is as active and connected as it is scenic. Step off your dock and you are on the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop, a waterfront path perfect for biking, running, or a leisurely stroll. And when you are ready to head into the city, Westlake’s crossroads location puts Downtown Seattle, Queen Anne, Fremont, and South Lake Union just minutes away, with direct access to I-5, the #40 bus line and the South Lake Union Tram—keeping you connected without ever feeling cut off from the water. Westlake offers an array of dining—Mother India, Stone Korean, Tandoor, Canlis, Tacos Chukis, Art Marble 21, and dozens more nearby in South Lake Union, Fremont, and Eastlake. Coffee favorites like Starbucks and Caffè Umbria are steps away, while Westlake Deli & Grocery (with essentials and a strong wine selection) is just a five-minute walk. The Boathouse Deli, known for its made-to-order breakfasts and lunches, is a quick ten-minute stroll along the water.

For boaters, it is paradise—home to numerous marinas and a strong spirit of camaraderie on the water. Kayaks, paddleboards, and electric boats are readily available from neighborhood outfitters like the Northwest Outdoor Center and The Electric Boat Company, while the ever-popular Hot Tub Boats offer a quirky twist on cruising. Of Seattle’s four floating home neighborhoods, Westlake stands alone for parking convenience. Ample city parking lines the length of Westlake Avenue North—from South Lake Union to the Fremont Bridge—making it effortless to come home, welcome guests, or even host a small waterfront gathering.

With fewer floating home docks than other neighborhoods, Westlake feels close-knit — neighbors know each other, boats are waved at, and the dock becomes an extension of your home. The lake is not just your view—it is your playground, your commute, and the heart of the neighborhood. In Westlake, you don’t just live on the lake—you live with it. Every breeze, every reflection, every ripple reminds you this is lake living at its most connected.

Floating Home Living on Lake Union

Living on Lake Union feels like being part of a quiet village nestled within the heart of a vibrant city. Few major cities in the world can claim a lake at their heart—let alone one as alive and accessible as Lake Union. Here, your backyard is the lake itself—no yard work required, just open water, ever-changing skies, and the joy of stepping off your deck for a swim, paddle, or sunset drink with neighbors.

Lake Union is one of Washington’s most active, mixed-use waterways — alive from dawn to dusk. Alongside paddlers and sailboats are research vessels, working marinas, party barges, fishing boats, and hot tub cruisers—all adding to the lake’s distinct rhythm. The UW champion rowing crews glide by in the morning light, seaplanes skim the surface in the afternoon, and sailboats drift across the horizon at golden hour. Whether you join in or watch from the deck, you are part of the daily aquatic symphony.

There is always something happening here. On summer Tuesdays, the beloved Duck Dodge sailing race transforms the water into a floating festival, with neighbors gathering on docks and dinghies to cheer as colorful spinnakers glide past. The Fourth of July brings the fireworks barge just offshore—front-row seats to one of Seattle’s most dazzling displays. Each December, the Christmas Ship Festival drifts by, carolers aboard decorated boats filling the night with music and good cheer. The water is your playground—clear, deep (20 to 50 feet), and endlessly inviting. Evenings often mean diving in after work, floating with a book, or swapping stories mid-swim with someone from the next dock over.

Nature is woven into daily life. Mergansers, buffleheads, goldeneyes, scaups, and cormorants cruise past in flocks, while herons and kingfishers hunt the shoreline. Beavers occasionally surface at dusk, drawing curious glances from the dock. Beneath the ripples, perch, sunfish, crappie, and bass thrive—and on a quiet morning, you might even spot a harbor seal slipping through.

Lake Union makes dining part of the adventure, with dozens of restaurants just a boat ride or short stroll away. Dock at Daniel’s Broiler, Westward, Agua Verde, or Ivar’s Salmon House, or walk to nearby neighborhoods for favorites like Gas Works Brewing, Tivoli, Fremont Brewing, Stone Way Café, Cafe Turko, Serafina, Little Water Cantina, Sushi Kappo Tamura, The White Swan, The Cove, Dukes, Mother India, Stone Korean, Tandoor, Canlis, and Art Marble 21.

But perhaps the most magnetic part of Lake Union is the community. Floating home residents often say they came for the water but stayed for the people. Privacy is respected, yet connection comes easily—especially after a few dockside happy hours, winter soup nights, the annual summer dock picnic or impromptu group paddles. You will find camaraderie, stewardship, and neighbors who become lifelong friends.

This is not just waterfront living—it is life reimagined. Simple. Connected. Magical!