Taking full advantage of its natural surroundings and integrating the outdoors with indoors, the Lincoln Bluff Residence is light-filled, open, and welcoming, the result of careful siting, material expression, and detailing. A clean, natural, and tranquil palette reflects the client’s fondness for simplicity, modernism, and rustic European roots.

Sited on a rocky bluff, the house takes advantage of sweeping views of the Columbia River.  The structure seamlessly integrates into its surroundings with large lower level and main level decks that provide easy access and views to the surrounding site, river, and wildlife reserve across the bank. Furthermore, the upper level rises to provide elevated views up and downstream.

The house consists of three wooden masses. Rather than reveal the grandness of the view upon descending the driveway, the house remains relatively solid on its forward-facing facade. Upon closer approach, an all-glass breezeway splits the wooden masses where large stone pavers flow through the house out onto the deck, unifying the spaces and pulling visitors toward the balcony lookout ahead perched hundreds of feet above the rocky terrain below.

A high-performance enclosure is achieved by an effective combination of triple-pane European windows, high insulation values, an airtight envelope, and a high-efficiency HRV system. The material and color palette drew inspiration from the natural spirit of the place, the land, trees, and water. Material choices consist of modified white ash wood siding, granite stone pulled from the site, dark bronze metal, and glass. As a result, the house is encouraged to age and settle in as the harsh environment will demand, rooting the building further into its surroundings.