Riverside
Tumalo, Oregon

This new home occupies the footprint of a 1960’s era midcentury house located at the mouth of a canyon along Oregon’s Deschutes River.  The existing home had become dilapidated and required full replacement.  County regulations allowed the new structure to be built within the footprint of the existing home, allowing it to sit within feet of the river.

The new minimalist ‘glass box’ structure is elevated slightly above the landscape offering a sense of floating above the ground plane while also lifting the occupants to allow a more unobstructed view down to the river directly below.  The entire east side of the home is wrapped in glass walls which allow views upstream into the river canyon as well as down river to the willow, dogwood and alder lined banks and islands.

A courtyard on the opposite side of the home offers a more private sanctuary with seating, outdoor dining, cooking, and yoga space along with an herb garden protected from foraging deer.

Triple pane glass, radiant floors and a super-insulated structure keep the home comfortable throughout the year.  Retractable bug screens are housed in the soffits surrounding the home.  With the screens deployed the entire elevated deck becomes a wraparound screened porch.

Ceiling and floors are clad in Oregon walnut, while the exteriors are finished in dark stained Doug Fir battens and structural steel.

The sunken conversation area in the living space features an indoor firepit and retracting glass wall which opens the home completely to the river.   The glass surrounded dining area offers an almost surreal sense of luxuriously picnicking in a grassy meadow.

The entire river-facing wall of the primary bedroom folds away to offer access to the custom hot tub which is recessed into the patio.  A soaking tub in the primary bath offers a more introspective view into the woods to the north.

The home’s garage is nestled into the hillside behind the structure and features a home gymnasium with a roll-up glass garage door allowing that space to also be opened completely to nature.

A small private dock allows one to dangle feet in the river, drop a line into the trout-filled waters, or hop on an inner tube and float lazily away.

This project was a collaboration with designer Kiki Dunson of Miami.

Project Credits