Architect Arnold Gangnes’ work was defined as “the new trend in design, planning and construction”. This 1957 Mid-Century Modern near Montlake Elementary integrates indoor and outdoor spaces through the extensive use of glass allowing light to enter the home from different angles with harmony and privacy. Classic 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath lives casually with many outdoor spaces including a patio with gardens plus an extra large deck over the two car garage. Experience order, space and proportion.
Born to Norwegian immigrant parents on May 17, 1918 in Port Alice, British Columbia, Arnold Gordon Gangnes received his formal education in architecture from the University of Washington, graduating in 1942. During school he served as an assistant instructor and worked as a draftsman in a variety of Seattle architectural firms. After the war, Gangnes entered graduate school, and received his master degree in architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1946.
After working in several offices on the east coast including the firm Anderson & Beckwith, Gangnes returned to the Pacific Northwest in 1947 and opened his own independent practice. Quickly Gangnes began to receive press and awards for his innovative designs of modern dwellings.
Early projects include the Michael Klapash House (1948) in Weed, California which received national attention when it was given a 1948 Citation Award from Progressive Architecture magazine. In 1954, the home also won a National AIA Honor Award. Other noteworthy dwellings include the R.E. Jacobs House (1952) in Bellevue; the Martin K. Whittaker House (1956) in Lakewood; the George Veith Home (1957) in Sequim; and the Richard C. Miller House (1957) in west Seattle. Gangnes’s own home in West Seattle (1948) also received a significant amount of press, where it was called representative of “the new trend in design, planning and construction.”
Lee Schulamn House, Seattle Times – Aug 13, 1961
In the late 1950s Gangnes began to receive larger-scale, non-residential and institutional projects. Notable projects include the Cherry Street Clinic (1958); a regional office building for the Waterfront Employers of Washington/Pacific Maritime Association (1959) in Seattle; a storage building for Abbey Rents (1960); the pro shop at Inglewood Golf Course (1961); Oxbow Industrial Park (1962); the Preferred Group Building (1962) in Bothell; an addition to Goodwill Industries (1964); Valu-Mart Stores, Midway site (1965) an Richland store (1967); an expansion of the Seattle Times Building (1968); and Villa-Mart Discount Department Store (1969) in Salem, Oregon.
Gangnes passed away in Seattle on April 21, 2003 at the age of 84.