Architect in Medina, WA — Piper Cole Architects

Medina is among the most exclusive residential communities in Washington State — a small, wooded city on the western shore of Lake Washington between Kirkland and Bellevue, home to some of the most significant residential architecture in the Pacific Northwest. With large lakefront lots, a commitment to architectural quality embedded in its design review process, and a homeowner base that expects excellence, Medina represents the peak of the Eastside residential market. Piper Cole Architects serves Medina clients with the highest level of residential architecture services.

Architecture in Medina’s Unique Context

Design Review and Architectural Quality

Medina has some of the most rigorous residential design review in King County. New homes, significant additions, and exterior renovations are reviewed for architectural quality, neighborhood compatibility, and landscape integration. This is not a process to minimize — it is a process to design for. An architect experienced in Medina’s design review can guide a project through review efficiently while producing architecture that genuinely meets the city’s standards.

Lakefront Estate Design

Medina’s Lake Washington frontage is extraordinary — wide lots with direct lake access, views across the lake to Seward Park and the Seattle skyline, and private docks on some of the most valuable residential waterfront in the state. Lakefront estate design in Medina requires mastery of shoreline regulations, view optimization, indoor-outdoor connection to the water, and materials appropriate for lakefront exposure. We design lakefront estates in Medina that take full advantage of their exceptional sites.

Interior Renovation of Existing Estates

Many of Medina’s homes were built in the 1980s and 1990s and are in need of interior renovation — updating floor plans, modernizing kitchens and bathrooms, improving energy performance, and bringing interiors in line with contemporary expectations. Our renovation and restoration practice and interior architecture service work in tandem on these projects.

New Custom Home Design

New construction in Medina is among the most demanding and rewarding residential work in the region. Budgets that allow for the highest quality materials and construction, clients who are sophisticated and engaged, and sites that offer remarkable opportunities combine to produce architecture that is genuinely exceptional. We approach every Medina new home project with the same discipline and creativity that has defined our practice across 800+ projects and 25 years.

Medina Permitting

Building permits in Medina are processed through the City of Medina’s Community Development Department. Medina is a small city and permits are reviewed carefully. Design review is required for exterior work on most projects.

• Residential addition: 8–14 weeks (including design review)
• New single-family home: 14–22 weeks (including design review)
• Shoreline projects: Additional 3–6 months for Shoreline Substantial Development Permit

Our Architecture Services

• Residential Architecture — Estate homes and lakefront design in Medina
• Renovation & Restoration — Estate renovation and modernization
• Interior Architecture — Full interior design for Medina estate projects
• Our Design Process — From feasibility and design review through construction

Other Service Areas

We also serve: Kirkland, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Redmond, Sammamish, and Seattle.