Pacific Northwest architecture

When the pandemic reshaped the way we think about home, one Portland family decided to reimagine theirs completely. The result is the Council Crest Residence (completed May 2024), a project by Risa Boyer Architecture that blends intimacy, craft, and high performance into a singular vision of residential living. Caption Jeremy Bittermann; © Jeremy Bittermann / JBSA Jeremy Bittermann; © Jeremy Bittermann / JBSA Perched into the hillside of Portland’s Council Crest neighborhood, the home responds to a deep desire for connection, to each other, to nature, and to the future. The clients, coming from a compact vertical home with little access to the outdoors, envisioned a sanctuary that would be warm, adaptable, an... More

Designed to honor the Irish heritage of its owners, Fairsing Winery creates a tasting experience shaped by history, landscape, and craft. The building aligns with a seven-circuit circular labyrinth, a form long associated with reflection and spirituality. This radial geometry informs the entire plan, creating a sense of harmony and quiet intentionality as guests move through the space. Courtesy of Studio Good The structure’s concrete walls echo the ancient stone dwellings found in the hills of Ireland. In a gesture of sustainable craft, the wood used to board-form those exterior concrete walls was repurposed for the tasting room’s interior cabinetry. A living sod roof reinforces the building’s earthy presence and hel... More

Henry Island Guesthouse is a thoughtful response to evolving a family retreat on a remote location. Through its sensitive approach to site, a compact linear form, restrained material selection, and strategies for occupant wellbeing, the project provides abundance without excess, offering guests immersion within a remarkable natural environment. Benjamin Benschneider Benjamin Benschneider The guesthouse is an addition to a secluded site in the San Juan Islands. The main residence on the 24-acre property, designed by our practice in 2012, sits in a meadow overlooking a shallow bay. When new owners purchased the property, they engaged us to create additions that respected the natural character of the island and its few homesites. Th... More

On a private inholding in the Wenatchee National Forest, this mountain-high, off-grid retreat is built to thrive in the abundant snowfall and extreme seasonal temperature swings. The cabin sits on an unwooded knoll to minimize impact on the existing site. Its design is pragmatic, durable, and energy efficient. Andrew Giammarco Accessible by only snowmobile or skis half the year, the ground level entry is equipped with ski racks, utility space, and a wood-burning stove for overall heat and aid in drying gear. At the top, a generous covered entry and hard-working foyer were designed with gear usage top of mind, giving plenty of space to transition out of skis, snowshoes, or hiking boots. The laundry room is right there as well, and hook... More

Perched atop a steep river bank, the Chewuch Cabin offers equal amounts of shelter from and exposure to north-central Washington’s rugged beauty. A high, linear roof gestures emphatically toward the river and foothills beyond, forming a primary axis. A low, rectilinear form intersects, creating a distinctive cruciform plan that informs all design moves in this small home. Kes Efstathiou Eirik Johnson Eirik Johnson The high-ceilinged volume contains kitchen, living and dining spaces as well a separate, single-car garage and intervening outdoor room. The lower-roofed volume contains bedroom, utility, and office spaces. The primary axis, clad in a combination of distressed wood siding and dark bronze composite, uses expos... More

The Red Hills Residence is nestled into the hills of Oregon wine country, offering a contemporary interpretation of the traditional farmhouse vernacular. Scott Edwards Architecture’s design is an invitation to slow the pace of life. Peter Eckert Peter Eckert Peter Eckert Peter Eckert The formal entry court leads through layers of landscaping and small yards to the house which, moving through, gradually dissolves into unobstructed views of the forested ridge and vineyards beyond.  Peter Eckert Peter Eckert Peter Eckert Peter Eckert Peter Eckert More

The Music Box Residence is designed around the intimate and communal qualities of music and family. This modern home is for two musicians and their children, plus hosting visiting family and entertaining. SEA’s design balances isolated space for playing music along with areas for gathering – the multi-level structure is organized to acoustically-isolate the entire lower level for percussion practice. Music Box takes advantage of a steeply sloping site by framing magnificent views of the Portland cityscape and the Cascade Range beyond. Peter Eckert Peter Eckert The “U” shaped plan has large volumes on both sides with a glassy two-story entry space in the middle. A long bridge, with a bamboo forest below, le... More