P A S T
THE ARCHITECT
Wendell Lovett: Renowned PNW Architect & Teacher
A native Seattleite, Lovett was first admitted to the architecture program at the University of Washington in 1940, but his studies weren’t completed until 1947, due to a wartime service disruption. After achieving a bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Lovett went on to study under Alvar Aalto at MIT to earn a master’s in architecture in 1948. Upon completion, he returned to the Pacific Northwest and briefly apprenticed
Wendell Lovett was a Pacific Northwest architect and teacher. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Lovett entered the University of Washington program in architecture in 1940, but his college years were interrupted by wartime service. He graduated from the University of Washington with a B.Arch in 1947. While at Washington he was significantly influenced by Professor Lionel Pries. Lovett attended MIT for one year, studying under Alvar Aalto and receiving his M.Arch. in June 1948. He returned to Seattle and rose to an associate position with Bassetti & Morse, where he remained until 1951 when he opened his own architecture firm.
Lovett’s achievements and accolades include an instructor position at the University of Washington from 1948 to 1984—serving as assistant professor (1951-60), associate professor (1960-65), and professor (1965-84). Upon retiring in 1984, Lovett continued to teach and was a professor emeritus from 1984 until his death in 2016. Lovett also spent time as a guest professor in Stuttgart, Germany from 1959-60, which heavily influenced his design. Lovett was a recipient of the AIA Seattle Chapter Metal (1983) and was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (1985).
The Original Owners
David Neil Cutler Sr. is an American software engineer. He developed several computer operating systems, namely Microsoft’s Windows NT, and Digita Equipment Corporation’s RSX-11M, VADELN, and VMS.
Debbie Girdler was an American software engineer at Digital Equipment Corporation.
The waterfront of the Cutler-Girdler residence spans 125 feet and is in one of the most desirable areas in the Seattle area. Public media indicates that Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates live in the neighborhood (more specifically, on the same street: Evergreen Point Road). In addition to the Cutler-Girdler residence, Lovett designed “Villa Simonyi” (also referred to as the Windows 2000 House) for Charles Simonyi, co-founder of Intentional Software and creator of the first versions of Microsoft Office.