Ryan Walsh, an architect, was given the opportunity to construct and design three different homes amidst land made famous by the mid-century modern establishments that were produced by some of Walsh’s most respected Portland architects; John Storrs and Saul Zaik. The pressure was on Walsh to construct a home that would match up to the famous dwellings in the neighborhood, but he embraced the challenge and developed his homes with a well thought out approach: “To maximize indoor-outdoor livability as well as privacy, and to instill a visual leitmotif using wood, stone and other natural elements emblematic of the Pacific Northwest, while still creating unique custom homes that ‘foster sensible family living’”(❡5). His project intended to construct large homes with great living spaces, without unnecessary space. Every home he had built was designed to collaborate and “‘live in harmony with the natural landscape and  with each other,’ says Walsh” (❡13). The first house had floor to ceiling windows that faced north and south, yet no windows on the east side of the house where the second home would be. The second house will have a courtyard that opens to a green area that faces east with a creek that flows through the second and third lots. Walsh made sure every aspect of the homes ensured the most efficient energy usage and allowed natural light to illuminate the rooms. With energy-saving appliances, such as a tankless water heater and a 96%-efficient forced-air furnace and air conditioner, the meticulously thought out homes are both breathtaking and sustainable.

This blog post was written by Krista Pham, our intern.

The article that inspired this piece can be found, here.