We’re returning to highlight and enjoy an exciting day touring some of the finest examples of modern architecture in Portland! Check back often as new homes will be as they are confirmed!
DATE: Saturday, April 25, 2015
TIME: 11:00am – 5:00pm
COST: $30 Online in advance, $40 Day of
LOCATION: A link to the tour homes’ locations will be posted here
TRANSPORTATION: Self-driving, Self-paced.
Presented in partnership with:
Advance tickets are on sale through FRIDAY, April 24 at 8:00 PM for $30 each. Tickets purchased after that time MUST be purchased at any of the tour homes beginning at 11:00 am on April 25 for $40 each. Children 12 and under are free.
Featured Homes
A) 4628 NE Wygant is a transitional modernist home that incorporates elements of modern living within an architectural form that allows infill integration in existing, long-established neighborhoods. The home embraces the demands of current home buyers by incorporating large open living areas, enhanced connection of outdoor living and indoor living through oversized, floor to ceiling windows and doors, clean and contemporary finishes and fixtures, and cable railing at stairs and openings – further enforcing the openness and visual connection of spaces. The finished product is a dwelling that meets the living requirements of a modern home buyer but is still contextually integrated within traditional neighborhoods.
Builder: Homes by Brent Keys
Brent Keys is a 4th generation homebuilder with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. Within the past 10 years Keys and his affiliates have developed and/or built over 1,500 units in the Pacific Northwest. His multi-faceted experience includes large-scale multi-family development, residential subdivision development, and single family, which is his passion. One thing that sets Keys apart from other builders is his keen eye for style and quality of craftsmanship, resulting in truly exemplary homes.
Recently, his work primarily consists of in-fill development in neighborhoods in North, Northeast and Southeast Portland. Using a contemporary design aesthetic and premium materials Keys is redefining homebuilding and neighborhood improvement.
Architect: Lee Winn / Winn Architecture
Landscape Architecture: Courtney Lewis Landscape Design & Consultation
Interior Design: Beverley Winn, Winn Winn Interiors
Furniture: Bella Furnishings
B) 4325 SE Main St was built on the 50/10 platform (www.5010houses.com) a collaboration between builder Cellar Ridge Construction and designer m.o.daby design which delivers an artfully conceived and constructed home which reduces energy consumption by 50% while keeping the additional investment below 10% compared to a code built home. This home answers the question: Can you design a classic gable roof house with modern style? with an emphatic Yes!
Builder: Cellar Ridge Construction
Architect: Matthew Daby
C) 6323 Northwest Manor Drive is a fresh mix of modern + comfort. It’s functional with a clear style point of view. Located next to Forest Park, the largest city park in the United States and minutes to downtown Portland. The purpose for our remodel design was to return the house to it’s original 1960’s roots creating a warm modern livable space for our family. We are drawn to design that is both authentic and welcoming to a broad audience.
The floorpan remains similar to the original home. An additional garage space with a rooftop deck off the master bedroom was added creating living space on the lower level. The repurpose of the bonus room above the garage becoming the new master bedroom/bath allowed the home to have two sleeping areas on separate sides of the floorpan. A small closet was removed in the entry way to create a more open feel.
Colors, materials and lines are carried throughout the home to achieve a consistent palette that adjusts to life’s seasons. Large windows were added across the front allowing for panoramic territorial/city views. The living space in the back of the home is maximized during warmer months with a large deck, stone patio, and flagstone dining area.
The Fullers hope you feel welcomed as you tour their home!
Concept by Owners, The Fuller Family
Plan Drafting: Innovative Space, Victor Valle
Builder: Epic Construction & Remodeling
D) Designated Parking: 11733 SW Breyman Ave (Riverdale Grade School)
IdeahousePDX is the vision of David Horning and Holly Freres, completed in 2014. This duo wanted to find a home to renovate for their family that represented their lifestyle, aesthetic, sustainable building practices and budget. David, a partner at MOA architecture and Holly Freres, owner of JHL design inc, set out to find the perfect setting to develop their vision. ideahousePDX was built with the idea that simple materials, beautifully designed could make an affordable dwelling. In keeping with the desire to have the house as sustainable as possible – weighing the cost of including green building materials and benefits to the environment – this designer-architect couple were able to weave in green building practices where they could.
The couple found a property that was abandoned and in serious disrepair. The setting was idyllic on a large, private, 3/4 acre lot. After purchasing the home and evaluating the structure, the couple decided to recycle the house and start anew on the existing foundation. Re-using all the materials they could salvage and recycling the rest, David designed the house around the original footprint. The only modification was a small addition to accommodate a master bedroom on the main level. Two elements they knew that they definitely must have were hydronic radiant floor heat and large expanses of glass for windows and doors. The rest is a mix of low cost materials with a hint of luxury. David designed the house around their casual lifestyle and Holly designed the interiors to be a simple, casual yet elegant mix that could stand up to the use of their 2 children (and one on the way) and two dogs. Entertaining is a frequent happening at their home so large, open spaces where kids could run and adults could entertain was essential. This high-low mix is something Holly finds herself doing daily for her clients. However, now was a time for her to craft her own vision and put her skills to use in a way that suited their family.
“Clients in our market usually have a budget but this comes with a big vision. We’re able to offer a mix of materials that use a high-low mix of goods and finishes to pull of the look they want. Doing this for our family really set into perspective what it’s like to be working with a budget for myself and having to choose.” For example, Holly used ikea kitchen cabinets and finished them with marble countertops and beautiful, knurled brass hardware. The powder room has papered walls and door with a made-in-america wallpaper and a salvaged-wood walnut slab countertop.
“Our family is in the plywood business so we played up the use of plywood in an unconventional way as cladding for walls and shelving,” explains Holly.
David is proud of the fact that not only were they able to build the house in less than a year doing a lot of the work themselves, but they were also able to build the home at less than $110.00 per square foot.
“What’s most impressive is the property doesn’t look like it was budget driven but we had to make some big choices on where to spend and where to save. I think Holly and I achieved the balance we’re looking for and works so well with our family lifestyle.”
Owner and Interior Design: Holly Freres, JHL Design Inc.
Architect: David Horning, MOA architecture
Photos: Ty Milford
Transportation to Ideahouse PDX provided by
Parking for IdeahousePDX provided by
E) 2625 E Burnside
Burnside 26 is built to the scale of your life. Situated in the middle of Portland’s vibrant eastside energy, our apartments offer room for downtime, make living easy and comfortable, and include the modern elements you want. Park your wheels in the underground parking and bike storage, then head up to the lobby and pour a pint from the community keg. You can tap into the building’s wifi, or continue to your apartment, equipped with some of Portland’s fastest, fiber-optic Internet. Kick back on the rooftop lounge and take in your daily dose of eastside and downtown views.
Architect: SERA Architects
Interior Architecture & Finishes: SERA Architects
Contributing Interior Design: Rachael Sowieja, Vida Design
Contributing Interior Design: Brienne Wasmer, 2Yoke LLC
F) 6901 SE Oaks Park Way, slip #18
The Holtz floating home resides on the Willamette River in the Sellwood area of Portland, Oregon. The project was completed in December of 2014.
The modern floating home is designed specifically for its location on the Willamette River and provides a dynamic layout which captures the stunning views both downriver, toward downtown Portland, and upriver as well. The Project contains a primary 2-story home as well as an accessory structure which is used as an office and guest space. There are several exterior balconies and decks which take advantage of the multiple views of the surrounding area on the river.
The house has several sustainable features including a geo-thermal heat pump heating & cooling system as well as a 10 KV photo-voltaic rooftop system.
Architect: Philip H. Sydnor, Integrate Architecture & Planning, p.c.a
General Contractor: Marc Even
Interior Design: Sandy Hayes, CMKBD, Hayes Designs LLC
Storm Water Sculpture: Ivan McLean
Finish Carpentry: Sean Gearin, Precision N.W. Woodcrafts LLC
Window Coverings: Don Arancibia, Mari Design, Inc.
Photography: Jeff Amram
G) 2808 SW Patton Ln
Bold rational lines of the LeGendre residence bring to mind the classics of modern architecture. Drawing inspiration from the German Bauhaus movement and the work of the great French modern architect Le Corbusier, this modern villa is an urbane repose with a cosmopolitan feel, transported into a magnificent natural setting in the southwest hills of Portland.
Owners Patti Sue and Gary LeGendre collaborated with designer/builder Christopher Gelber and completed the house in 2012. The vertical dimension of the 40 foot high Italian marble stairwell, crowned with a large glowing pyramidal skylight, reflects the strong axial presence of the massive fir trees that frame both ends of the home.
The elegant and formal floor plan provide a clear sense of order and careful attention to the flow from public to private spaces. On the main floor, 12 foot ceilings and beautiful windows create expansive views. Included on the upper floor are a large master suite with a terrace, two bedrooms, bath, office, and a laundry room. On the garden level, a separate apartment sits adjacent to an 1100 square foot garage, designed to accommodate a stable of cars, with a workshop and an enormous glass roll-up door overlooking the mature landscape.
Interior finishes in the house have a luxurious, stately character and evince the same careful attention to modernist simplicity, as does the exterior, where every intersection and edge have been thoughtfully considered and carefully executed. The presence of timeless and sensuous materials, like hand-troweled plaster, bronze, black walnut flooring, and Italian marble evoke the warmth and richness typically lacking in conventional modern homes today.
Functionally, this is a house that is as energy efficient and sustainably built as any others claiming LEED certification, proving that good design and luxurious materials need not require sacrifices in functionality or budget. A robust yet discreetly installed system controls many of the houseworks without making its presence felt: lights, audio, security, climate and appliances can all be controlled using a smart phone.
Ultimately, the LeGendre residence provides an urbane, cosmopolitan and glamorous experience in a verdant and peaceful park-like setting.
Architect: Christopher Gelber
H) 4729 N Congress Ave
This home takes a fresh, modern approach to maximizing space and efficiency without compromising aesthetic. The open floor plan on the main level begins with a dining area and kitchen where the combination of the materials and textures woven in with Viking kitchen appliances and quartz countertops, are simply stunning. Continuing on, there are 2 eye-catching gas fireplaces perfect for relaxing or entertaining; one in the living area, and the other a part of the covered outdoor living space. Throughout the entire home, the vaulted ceilings & large windows create ambiance, and welcome natural light.
Builder: Homes by Brent Keys
Architect: Lee Winn / Winn Architecture
The Portland Modern Home Tour thanks:
