Birkemeier Home

“One of the most prolific midcentury proponents was Ken Birkemeier, who designed and built dozens of city homes, particularly in Northeast Portland neighborhoods. Some of his hallmark touches include Roman brick facades (using longer, narrower bricks), spacious rooms, large front windows and stylized round “oculus” windows. Many of his modern homes featured a combination of rooflines.

For sale at 7005 N.E. 29th Ave. in the Concordia neighborhood is one such Birkemeier, built in 1956. Focused on two fireplaces, one that faces the living room and the other the dining room, the home is a striking example of Birkemeier’s mantra of the hearth as the heart of the home.

“The owner is an interior designer,” said listing agent Swenson, “and the home has been tastefully updated while retaining its period details. It has lots of natural honey-blonde wood built-ins, beamed vaulted ceilings on the main floor and a built-in entry planter. The kitchen has been updated with custom cabinets and Pratt and Larson tile, and the lower level, which was a bar, is nearly a completely separate living quarters; it just needs a stove.

“Birkemeier was a creative builder who designed and built high-quality homes with character,” she said. “These homes rarely go on the market.”

Priced at $424,900, the 3,216-square-foot home has four bedrooms and three baths. It will be open Sunday, March 11, from 1 to 4 p.m.”

Read the entire story here

This home is no longer available for sale but still fun to read about:

I am a big fan of John Storrs work and am thrilled to list this home as it is one of his early residential projects in the Portland area.  Storrs is famous in Oregon’s architectural community for being part of the second generation of architects who established the Northwest Regional style of architecture – an Asian-influenced architectural form noted for its use of natural wood and stone, ample windows to bring the outdoors in, and its subtle, understated buildings that blend in with the land.

The Butner Road home was commissioned by Oregon residents Mr. And Mrs. Williams in 1954 (built 1955) and is so well integrated into its site that it is easy to pass by without hardly seeing it. As you walk toward the front entrance you are greeted by gorgeous, well preserved split cedar siding and a covered walkway  similar to the ones he later used in his Salishan Lodge design. You enter the home into a Sitka paneled hallway with high ceilings, floor to ceiling windows and skylights making you wonder if you might actually still be outdoors.  This is the hallway  that connects the two wings of the home and has large double doors that open to the outside courtyard created by the H style layout of the home that overlooks the private wooded backyard.  The dining and living spaces are open and the built in bookshelves flow around corners that lead to the custom kitchen. The kitchen has a vaulted ceiling with multiple skylights and again is covered in beautiful Sitka. The custom cabinets and lighting make for a bright space ready great for entertaining.  The long hallway flows into a subtle split at the opposite end that will take you either a couple of stairs up to the bedrooms and baths or down a short flight to the daylight basement studio and laundry facilities.  This house is full of simple yet brilliant design details and good site orientation to allow natural light and privacy for the residents.

Virtual Tour

More details:

• Designed by famous Oregon architect John Storrs in 1955
• Northwest Regional style mid century modern
• 2366 sq ft split level house in a fantastic location
• Move in ready – fresh paint, floors redone (by early December)
• Unique open floor plan
• 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths
• 9 foot ceilings in living areas
• Updated kitchen with vaulted ceiling, custom cabinets and  stainless still appliances, Viking stove
• Lower level studio/office space with 62 feet of full sized built in closet space and tiled floors
• 240 sq.ft. of unfinished crawl space with high ceilings, could be converted to extra storage or wine cellar
• Outdoor courtyard living space with a private,  large 360 sq.ft. floor level redwood deck in park like setting
• 2 car garage
• Beautiful Redwood siding, metal roof, custom gutters
• Original interior Sitka paneling
• Hardwood floors throughout
• Stone entry
• 4 large skylights throughout
• Gas fireplace
• New gas furnace/heating and cooling
• Custom alarm system
• Custom wood and metal blinds
• Great close- in location 5-10 minutes to downtown Portland, local shopping, St Vincent Hospital, Nike Campus and Intel
• Landscaped front yard and L shaped driveway
• Ridgewood Elementary, Cedar Park Middle School, Sunset High School within 10 minutes
• 2 blocks from Commonwealth Park that has walking/jogging paths along a beautiful lake with ducks, and play areas
• Easy access to Sunset Transit station 5-15 minute drive or walk

Located in the Cedar Hills area of Portland

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Oshatz's Skyland Circle Home built in 1975 - on market for $1.67M 18024 Skyland Cir Lake Oswego Oregon

Organic architecture is a philosophy of architecture which promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world through the design approach.  The site, building, furnishing and surroundings are creatively integrated into an interrelated composition.  Frank Lloyd Wright is credited as having coined the term and his work encompasses this philosophy.  The design approach of the organic architect begins with a site study to see how the structure will fit into the natural setting.  The same materials used on the exterior of the structure are reflected in the interior so that when you are looking outside it is difficult to distinguish the difference between the two.  The materials used in building the structure are typically from the areas close to the site so that it is the same as the landscape.

Oregon’s very own famed Organic Architect Robert Oshatz keeps away from all design theories (except the basic: composition, dominance,transition and identity) so that his process of design comes from simply solving a given problem.  When presented with a problem, Oshatz clears his mind of prior solutions and uses intuition to solve each one, since all projects and problems are unique.The design approach is more along the lines of anything goes, as long as it works both functionally for the clients needs and with nature.

Oshatz has graced Oregon’s landscape with some of the most unique structures, ones that are difficult to find since he is so effective in achieving his goal of integrating the structure into the natural landscape. Photos from his own Elk Rock residence located in Lake Oswego, channels a 70′s sci-fi thriller set meets Frank Lloyd Wright atmosphere. I recently had the opportunity to tour one of his early designs that is currently on the market (a rare opportunity).  I was told it was one of his first projects, built in 1975, and it is truly a breathtaking creation. The entry is hidden off of the driveway behind a stone column so it felt almost like the home was pulling you into it as you approach it. When you enter the home you are greeted by intensely high lit beamed ceilings, as you head to the right you enter into a communal living space with floor to ceiling windows that look out into the forest and a pool with a unique design. The living space also has a built in bar, built in wall seat that matches the wood on the walls, a huge stone fireplace that is circular and extends through the ceiling which mimics the trees outside.  You can see from the exterior photos, the home starts low at the back and gradually becomes larger as it springs into the forest.  As you walk through the interior from back to front it feels like you are emerging from a cozy comfy cocoon and into the middle of the forest.  The design of the home in relation to the exterior environment evokes an emotional response, one that makes you appreciate nature and creates a heightened awareness of the beauty that comes with working with nature. This home is located at 18024 Skyland Circle, Lake Oswego and was purchased and restored by architect Dick Baty in 2008, with Oshatz on hand as an advisor.

Oshatz’s creations are among some of the higher end real estate in the Portland area (when/if they are ever on market).  However, if you are on a budget and would like to own a piece of Oshatz’s work, there currently is one unit (3bd, 2ba) available in his Raleigh Woods apartments turned condos ($171k).

More Skyland Circle photos below and here:

interior loft bedroom overlooking living space

modern living space

exterior living space

More posts on Oregon’s organic architecture:

• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gordon House – Silverton Oregon