The Wilkinson House by Robert Oshatz, completed in 2004, is an example of modern architecture at peace with its site. The house occupies a wooded Pacific Northwest site, on a fast down sloping grade, which allows the main level of the house to sit among the tree canopy. The exterior of the house is a series of horizontal layers featuring copper, cedar shingles, and a copper metal roof. Walls made of glass provide abundant natural lighting on the interior and views to the surrounding canopy, satisfying the resident’s desire to see and hear the surrounding bird life, and feel like a part of the landscape.

The entrance walkway passes a small Japanese garden. The house has a highly spacious, open plan, with a variety of built in furnishings, countertops, and cabinets. The main living space is a single room including a sitting area, kitchen and dining area, and a fireplace nook. The main space opens onto a very large deck among the trees. The house is 393 square meters total, with a 234 square meters on the main floor, and 159 square meters on the lower level with three full bedrooms and two and a half baths.

Natural materials provide a variety of colors and textures to create a warm interior environment. Materials include cedar shingles, wood trim, gypsum board, carpet, slate tile, granite tile, and copper. The space of the house seems to flow inside and out, as materials continue from the interior to the exterior. Curves add tranquility to the space; a series of curved, glue laminated beams support the high ceiling overhead, cedar shingles describe a series of organic curves, and a glass enclosed meditation room adjacent to the main space is a circle in section.

Oshatz left no detail untouched; he provided for natural ventilation, and environmentally friendly gas-fired hot water radiant floor heating. As the resident is a lover of music, the interior space acoustics were carefully controlled, allowing the space of the house to resonate with the flow of music.