Dream Spaces: Trash Becomes Treasure in a Massive Seattle Garage
Restored cars join racing memorabilia and artwork in this incredible garage for a former professional Porsche driver
A love of restoring junk to its former glory led a professional Porsche driver to build this incredible garage. The 3,981-square-foot space is dedicated solely to his collections; everything in here was trashed at some point but now shines after careful restoration. Gelotte Hommas Architecture helped design and build the space, smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood on Mercer Island in Seattle. It now holds an unbelievable array of restored cars, salvaged racing paraphernalia and unique artwork made of recycled materials.
The bottom floor of the garage is dedicated to working on and displaying the homeowner's impressive car collection. Architects Curtis Gelotte and Scott Hommas had to make room for more than 20 cars here, so they installed two levels with hydraulic lifts.
The homeowner had a distinct style in mind before construction started. "He didn't want it to be a big, blank garage," says Hommas. "He wanted it to be interesting." Elements of shingle-style homes, cabins and farmhouses combine in a unique structure that fits surprisingly well into its Pacific Northwest neighborhood.
Hommas and his team dedicated a portion of the space to residential living, to comply with local zoning requirements. However, the garage takes up more than three-quarters of the total square footage, and its purpose has been emphasized through layout and design. Natural stone accents on the front of the garage give it a softer look, but an old-school gasoline dispenser makes it clear what lies inside.
In lieu of any decorative focal points, the client hung up an old helicopter that he had restored. Hommas used a simple winch mechanism, so it can be lowered easily.
This wild light fixture, hanging in a stairwell that leads to the two upstairs rooms, was built by a local artisan out of different parts of cars and other bits of recycled trash.
The client "is a bit of a closet architect himself," says Hommas. "He likes to be very involved."
The client "is a bit of a closet architect himself," says Hommas. "He likes to be very involved."
The garage also hosts an impressive collection of racing paraphernalia from the client's decades in racing. Almost everything has some personal significance, including the car hoods hung on the far wall. Each hood comes from a car that the homeowner has driven — many were wrecked during a race, and only the hood could be salvaged.
This sturdy bridge connects the two residential portions of the garage with a workout room and a lounge-office combo.
This sturdy bridge connects the two residential portions of the garage with a workout room and a lounge-office combo.
Two more examples of the client's affinity for collecting quirky items adorn the exterior — a large totem pole in the yard and a large rooster made of scrap metal above the front door.
"It's an interesting house, but it doesn't feel out of place," says Hommas. "It actually does a very good job of blending in."
Next: Another car lover's man cave kicks into high-luxury gear
"It's an interesting house, but it doesn't feel out of place," says Hommas. "It actually does a very good job of blending in."
Next: Another car lover's man cave kicks into high-luxury gear