Oregon Coast Beach House – Boora Architects
Conceived by seminal Oregon developer John Gray in 1961, this resort community on the Central Oregon Coast is an historic development, with an architectural pedigree including of the masters of Pacific Northwest Modernism — John Storrs, Barbara Feeley, and Saul Zaik.
The homeowners understood and valued the history of their community, and sought to reengage the community’s early Northwest Modernist spirit in the design of their new home. With design details that uphold the Modernist mantle and an internal organization that suits their 21st century lifestyles, their new house suits its natural surroundings, yet stands out amongst conventional, oversized beach homes.
To maximize the site’s 180-degree views of Siletz Bay and minimize intrusion from neighboring houses, the home was organized as a splayed U-shape around a landscaped courtyard .The main living spaces are connected to a garage with second floor office via a sheltered walkway. Horizontal cedar slats shield the walkway and courtyard from view of the road and neighboring houses. Wrapping into the home and down the first floor hall, the screen also focuses views toward the landscape and leads guests into the family’s retreat.
To ensure privacy, sleeping quarters are set on the ground floor, where they are surrounded by a dense growth of shore pines and coastal grasses. Acting as natural filters, the landscape allows wide windows to suffuse the bedrooms of the lower floor with tranquil daylight.
Window placement is choreographed to frame specific views, enhancing connections to the surrounding landscape. An easy, clean beach atmosphere, with a warm, mellow color palate, crisp white linens and plaster walls, comfortable seating and a bright, exuberant art collection create a modern sanctuary for the homeowners.
On the top floor, living spaces are oriented to the northeast away from the adjacent developments and toward courtyard and Siletz Bay. Lifted above private sleeping quarters, the large, open great room takes in the spectacle of the tidal marsh and bay through 15-foot window walls. The division between the coastal environment and interior space further dissolves as hemlock paneling and oak flooring, which swaths floors, walls and ceilings, lends warm, natural structure to the kitchen, dining and living spaces.
Across the courtyard, a home office sits above the garage. The separation from the main living space helps create a refuge for focused work, while hemlock paneling lends a calm atmosphere away from the noise and activity of the rest of the house. Glowing like a lantern at night, this modern beach house offers a busy Portland family sanctuary, privacy, flexible guest space and an office sanctum.
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