A Bainbridge Island property originally built by Jack Christiansen, a well-known Seattle structural engineer, has been listed for sale at $4.4 million. The residence, located on a 2.03-acre lot overlooking Port Orchard, was designed in collaboration with architect Paul H. Kirkas and completed in 1965.
Known as The Christiansen House, the home is recognized for its “hyperbolic-paraboloid thin-shell concrete design,” which gives the structure the appearance of floating above the living space. Christiansen’s engineering work includes significant projects such as the Seattle Kingdome, Seattle First National Bank, and Washington State Convention and Trade Center.
Danny Varona of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty is co-listing the property with Matthew Paige. Varona described the home’s uniqueness: “There is not another house quite like this in the Pacific Northwest the way it was built (…) Jack Christiansen did a lot of commercial projects, so this is a rarity. When you say you really haven’t seen a house quite like this, you actually mean it with this one.”
Varona added that his team has managed previous sales of the home and highlighted recent updates made by the current owner: “We sold it the last two times (…) The owner who took stewardship from the Christiansen family did a lot of updating and had the kitchen and bathrooms remodeled.” He also said that while it served as a second residence for its current owner—who is moving back to Colorado—the home could function as either a primary or secondary residence.
The house features an open floor plan with waterfront views of Port Orchard and vistas of the Olympic Mountains visible from nearly every room through floor-to-ceiling windows. Notable interior elements include exposed beams, a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, skylights, French doors, radiant heat, and glass walls. The modern kitchen features high-end stainless steel appliances, a waterfall island, custom lighting, and ocean views.
“The next buyer will be someone looking for a home with very unique architecture,” Varona stated. “The setting is beautiful with a 180-degree view of the Olympic Mountains and nice beach access.”
Varona also mentioned Bainbridge Island’s appeal: “It’s the proximity of Bainbridge Island that draws people to it (…) It has that small-town feel but is just half an hour away from the largest city. It’s truly one of those jewels that you just can’t replicate.”
Bainbridge Island lies west of Seattle and can be reached by ferry or by bridge to Tacoma at its northern end. Local community representatives describe it as “truly the jewel of Puget Sound,” offering parks, trails, local arts performances, restaurants, food and wine options, along with many recreational activities on water.
Jack Christiansen died at age 89 on Bainbridge Island in 2017.
