Explore The 2024 Tour Homes
Showcasing Amazing Examples of PNW Modern Architecture Today!
image: Christopher Dibble for Teal & Scott
Showcasing Amazing Examples of PNW Modern Architecture Today!
About 48 hours before Tour Day, watch your email for a printable PDF map and info packet, as well as links to a dynamic online map for easy navigation.
Travel at your own pace as you visit the homes in any order you wish between 10 AM and 4 PM on Saturday ONLY.
Sited in a serene forested Japanese garden like setting on .42 acres, this special Northwest Regional Style home was designed by renowned Portland architect, Walter Gordon, and was completed in 1956. This well preserved and cared for 2324 sq. ft. home maintains many of its original design details including extended overhangs, exposed vaulted wood ceilings, skylights, garden views, slate entry, hardwood floors, cabinetry & built-ins, pristine kitchen and roman bath. This home is a peaceful private enclave you’ll want to be sure to experience in person.
About the Architect: Walter Gordon (born 1907) studied architecture at Princeton, Yale, and the University of Paris. He entered museum work in 1935 and came to the Portland Art Museum in 1939. He became good friends with and worked for Pietro Belluschi beginning in 1941. He opened his own offices in Portland and Eugene in 1947. He later became the dean of University of Oregon’s School of Architecture and Allied Arts and was a design consultant for the Portland Development Commission from 1962-1972.
images: Jeff Weithman – (W)here
Earth tones and natural wood finishes combined with clean, modern lines bring the outside in.
Mid-century modern designs are the life of the party, like that friend who brings an unmistakable vibe. When we gutted this place down to the studs, we didn’t just give a nod to the architect’s authenticity and warmth—we practically threw it a high-five. The wood ceiling? It’s the show-stealer, the MVP, the platform for greatness. So, don’t be shy; take the reins and splash a burst of pale yellow into the room! Let’s keep that mid-century mojo rolling.
images: Christopher Dibble
In the vibrant NW Alphabet District of Portland, WDP’s studio is a unique blend of artistry and innovation, redefining the concept of a workplace. The firm’s vision aimed to create an office that seamlessly combines the comforts of home with the functionality of a workspace. Designed to be a hub for the creative community, a backdrop for events, and a space that invites playful experimentation, the studio stands out as an inviting and creatively inspiring office.
The 2023 renovation by WDP of the century-old property (1923) marked a pivotal chapter in its evolution, meticulously upgrading the entire building to transition from a residential haven to a dynamic commercial space. The result is a timeless environment that transcends design trends, embodying the property’s evolution into a distinguished workspace.
Stepping into the WDP Studio reveals an open-concept main floor designed for collaboration. The luxurious kitchen, equipped with residential amenities, creates a warm atmosphere for both work and relaxation. The main meeting area features a versatile dining table, seamlessly transitioning from a communal workspace to a conference hub.
The intentionally minimalist front gallery serves as a neutral ground for discussions, emphasizing the studio’s commitment to thoughtful design. Connected to the gallery is the material library, flooded with lighting, functional shelving, counters, and a work island.
On the second floor, the bedrooms have been transformed into distinctive offices, fostering a sense of community among team members. Playful powder rooms, once part of a larger bathroom, add a touch of whimsy to the upper level, enhancing the studio’s commitment to a unique and inspiring workspace.
images: George Barberis
This ground-up new construction custom-built home was inspired by a Southern California aesthetic, aiming to capture maximum natural light and take advantage of the private wooded property. The front of the house only hints at what awaits once you step inside…saving the grandness for the back of the house which instantly invites you outside with the double height ceilings and walls of glass framing the rolling lawn down to the lake. Dramatic architectural arches are repeated in the front and back.
We created very intentional spaces based on the lifestyle of this family of all boys with teenagers – a soundproof movie/gaming room accessed through a secret hidden door, a second laundry room with access right off the lake for wet towels as well as a soundproof music room for the musicians in the family. The 900 sq ft indoor futsal court and home gym comes complete with slide access. Every space was thoughtfully customized so that every inch of the house really does get used.
images: Josh Partee & Luke Lozano
Less than four miles from downtown Portland, this unique property sits within a forested park setting and offers two tours in one—a home and an architectural studio.
Architects Adam and Lisa Christie couldn’t resist the site’s perfect blend of city and country living. And the overgrown landscape and aging 1954 daylight ranch posed an enticing design challenge.
The couple stripped away the colonial vibe and fully remodeled the home with a modern sensibility. They maintained the enviable ranch elements—the layout, hardwood floors, solid doors, cove moulding, and custom radiators—and gutted the remainder of the house. Updates include a new kitchen, bathrooms, and larger windows to deepen the connection to the outdoors. A small addition supports a spacious primary suite while new siding and trim refresh the facade.
In 2017, Adam and Lisa designed and built a new freestanding studio to complement the house—an office steps away from their home. Taking cues from the updated ranch, this single-story modern structure features a gable roof, extended eaves, and board and batten cedar siding.
The well-considered placement of the studio completes the site composition. A lush courtyard creates a distinct sense of arrival and thoughtfully connects the two structures. In fact, the landscape design is a bonus to this tour. The previously overgrown jungle was carefully redesigned to reinforce the modern aesthetic, including multiple terraces for dining, lounging, and hanging out.
images: Kuda Photography
The Portsmouth Cottages fill a void in attainable and sustainable housing options in the city. Although just 890 square feet, these cottages still boast comfortable rooms and yard spaces, thanks to MODD’s thoughtful space planning. Unique features include the wood beam ceiling and the office/coatroom nook. Direct connection to a covered patio and a full size eat-in kitchen make the 2 bedroom / 1.5 bath home live larger than its numbers.
The project maintained the 3 existing homes and developed their rear yard spaces, adding 6 more cottages on the same lot area. All 9 dwellings still have private yards for your dog or garden!
Unlike traditional cottage clusters oriented around a common on-site courtyard, the unique “through lot” configurations allowed us to design the cottages all with street frontage that engage the established community.
An eclectic collection of 20th century bungalows in the neighborhood inspired the simple designs of the cottages. Even while the dwelling density was tripled, the scale and character of the neighborhood is respected.
This context is common in Portland. The project was used as a case study for how to build beautiful, right size, right price homes on other infill lots in desirable neighborhoods.
images courtesy M.O.Daby Design
Nestled among the giant fir trees, hidden from the road on a deep wooded lot, Bruch residence celebrates its surroundings with the use of native materials and vertical expression with its soaring vaulted ceilings. Vertical Doug Fir Larch siding in a weathered soft grey and sage stain blends into the forested background. Crisp black windows wrap the corners of the living spaces and stair tower and frame unobstructed sunsets.
The structure is revealed in the exposed timber beams and wood ceiling, creating the warmth and intimacy of a cabin. The home is composed of two volumes with simple shed roofs, an entry and stair tower connect the two volumes, A loft overlooking the 25’ living space below is filled with light from the floor to ceiling windows. The scale is as dramatic as the majestic trees that surround it,
The interiors have a Japanese influence with white oak floors, custom oak and fir art display niches, kitchen cabinets, window seat and fireplace details meticulously crafted. Shou-Sugi Ban 4×10 Fir beams contrast beautifully with the hand scraped natural 2X6 Fir decking for the ceiling. Paper lanterns bring the scale back down to the dining area and float like lanterns. A fireplace, with a warm grey modeled Venetian plaster finish and floating granite hearth anchors the other end of the Great room. And all of it accessible with the main bedroom and living spaces on the main level.
The home with white wall, black windows, mix of dark and light wood tones is the perfect backdrop for the owner’s collection of antique furniture, art and pottery beautifully displayed like a magical museum.
Temporary images courtesy JAB Deign Build
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Tour the homes. Meet the architects and designers, and Get Inspired! The 2024 Portland Modern Home Tour takes you inside of Portland‘s coolest homes, and face-to-face with the creative geniuses that make them a reality!
