FOR YOU MODERN ARCHITECTURE BUFFS...
Jan 06, 2010
[gallery order="DESC"]
Alan Liddle House Tour
Co-sponsored by Docomomo WEWA and Historic Tacoma.
Location: 12735 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, Lakewood (near Tacoma)
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Come anytime between 11:00 am and 2:00 p.m. The tour is free but donations will be gladly accepted at the house; reservations are not needed. Parking is limited so please carpool if you can. Pull into the driveway and follow the path toward the house. There are a few parking spots in the turn-around near the house. If there is no parking, go back down the driveway and park in the overflow area near the other house (built in the 1920s ) on the property. Tacoma architect Alan Liddle’s Lakewood home overlooking Gravelly Lake was completed in 1969. Parker Gadd was the builder. The house was widely publicized after its construction and received numerous design awards including an honor award from the Southwest Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The house was also a citation winner in the ninth biennial round of the AIA-Sunset Magazine Western Home Awards in 1973.
The contemporary Northwest style house sits on a heavily wooded site at the highest elevation overlooking the lake. The design was inspired by Finnish architecture, incorporating brick floors (continued from the courtyard to the interior), sloping wood ceilings, and a freestanding fireplace. The house was designed to provide ample sunlight even though the lake side of the structure has a northern exposure. The sun-trap courtyard, nestled between the carport and the house is a major exterior feature and successfully provides the outdoor-indoor living effect so popular among residences of the Modern era.
The house was designed by Alan Liddle as his own residence and represents the unique, personal space of one of Tacoma’s most prominent architects. Up until his death in May 2009, the house remained true to its late 1960s/early 1970s appearance, complete with original furnishings, artwork, and book collection. Members of the Docomomo WEWA Board of Directors met with Alan in his home in 2006. We were graciously welcomed and entertained by his many stories about architecture, art, and design. He passed away in May 2009. The house was deeded to the Tacoma Art Museum.
Liddle was one of the city's most-accomplished and well-known architects. He designed more than 100 homes and 50 commercial buildings and was frequently featured in national magazines. He was a founder of the Tacoma Art Museum and one of the first chairmen of the city Landmarks Commission.
We’d like to thank the Tacoma Art Museum for opening up the home for our tour.
Alan Liddle House Tour 
