Tuesday 1 September 2009

Wilkinson Residence – Robert Harvey Oshatz

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wilkinson-residence-6 Dubbed the Oregon Tree House and completed in 2004, this beauty was seven years in the making, “from drawing board to completion.”

Says the Trendir Modern Houses website,

    Nature with architecture is not an odd pairing by any means, but it’s never been done quite like this. But another factor plays heavily on this contemporary, flowing style – music. Architect Robert Harvey Oshatz has created this awesome, artistic piece of architecture in the woods of Portland, Oregon, for a client who’s love of music would be translated into a modern home. . .
     The main living level of this contemporary tree house sits in the canopy, among lush green leaves with the dewy earth rolling out below. It’s one of those designs that’s difficult to describe.
wilkinson-residence-9    According to the architect, “One has to actually stroll through the house to capture its complexities and its connection to the exterior with the use of a natural wood ceiling floating on curving laminated wood beams which pass through a generous glass wall  which wraps around the main living room.”

See more of the house here, and at the architect’s website: Robert Harvey Oshatz Architect

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7 comments:

Unknown said...

I'd love to have a good look through this house.

deleted said...

Looks awesome, wonder if it will have any problems with dampness (damn nature) in years to come?

Peter Cresswell said...

I shouldn't think so, Mike. He's been doing these houses for years. :-)

Clunking Fist said...

"wonder if it will have any problems with dampness"

Only if he spec'd gib?

The Tomahawk Kid said...

Was this designed in the 1970s?

It certainly has that look to it.

I love architecture from that period.

There was however plenty of dreadful stuff too, but the good stuff like this has a great feel to it.

I hate the stuff too (gib)
There is only 1 room in my house with gib (laundry) - I have used everything BUT gib.

Bricks, Corrugated Iron, Recycled weatherboards, Onduline, Plywood, Duralite (clear corrugated plastic)and MDF

That also means no skirting, no scotias, no gib stopping, and quite often no painting (plywood needed varnishing)

Clunking Fist said...

"wonder if it will have any problems with dampness"

My first thought was actually the bloody spiders...

Joel Linn said...

House in the TREES! Great blend of lines and CONTOURS! Material of choice is my favorite... WOOD. This house is well dressed in radiused timber beams and randomly spaced shingle siding. This place puts you right up inside one of Portland, Oregon's best features -- its lush tree canopy! From the page: "Located on a flag lot, a steep sloping grade provided the opportunity to bring the main level of the house into the tree canopy to evoke the feeling of being in a tree house. A lover of music, the client wanted a house that not only became part of the natural landscape but also addressed the flow of music. This house evades the mechanics of the camera; it is difficult to capture the way the interior space flows seamlessly through to the exterior. One must actually stroll through the house to grasp its complexities and its connection to the exterior. One example is a natural wood ceiling, floating on curved laminated wood beams, passing through a generous glass wall which wraps around the main living room.