Seabrook, Washington | Points of Interest | 2008

Seabrook is a community being built on the Washington Coast.

There were several planning items that caught my eye.

The place was incredibly kid-friendly.Here are two playgrounds.

Little touches matter to kids.This is a small lemonade stand for kids to play in.

Happy kids = Happy parents.There were places to play together—

horseshoes and shuffleboard, for example.

Play together.There were many different games and balls

that could be used, free of charge, in this greenspace.

Get to know one another.Community fire pits were busy every night.

Kids were everywhere.The community was built with cyclists and walkers in mind.

Everyone had access to a bike.It became part of the whole experience.

Flex Bikes Available.Anyone could borrow a bike for a few hours.

Areas for the community to gather.This amphitheatre will eventually include a portable stage.

Have fun together.Some cottages were clustered around fireplaces and green areas, offering place for community.

Multi purpose space offers flexibility.This roundabout doubles as a plaza for large events.

Limit the use of asphalt.The planners use gravel and crushed sea shells

wherever possible.

Keep some of the wildness.Indigenous and existing plantings were kept throughout.

Keep wild areas.Indigenous and existing plantings were kept throughout.

Add wetland areas for biodiversity.Small streams like this one were encouraged

and used as focal points for community interaction.

Protecting the area’s heritage.The oldest home in the area was moved to Seabrook

and will be restored.

Varying house sizes are offered.This is one of the larger options.

Note the narrow streets to keep traffic slow.

No front yards.Each home opens directly on to a path

to encourage interaction with the community.

A sense of place is fostered.Each home is identified with a memorable sign.

Different housing stylesSome homes had a carriage house above the garage.

Big front porches.The idea is to focus attention and interaction on the trails.

Low Impact Lighting.Note the way the street light focuses light on the ground.

Eyes on the street.Lots of visibility, and homes close together.

Lots of different housing sizes.Everything from carriage houses to homes that could sleep 20.

And, of course, an ocean view.Can’t go wrong with the sun setting over the Pacific.