OREGON BEACH house
gearhart, OREGON

AREA: 7,580 SF
DURATION: design 2022 - 2023, construction 2023 - 2025
COST: WITHHELD
ARCHITECT: REID ARCHITECTURE PLLC
structural engineer: madden & baughman engineering, INC.
interior deCORATOR: studio fRazar
landscape design: outdoor scenery

The project started out as a window replacement project for a 1920s shingle style house in a small Oregon coastal town. After the architect and clients spent a weekend together in house, the project was expanded into a full house renovation and addition. The prime goal of the project was to strip away layers of materials accumulated over years by different owners and return the house back to its original palette of local materials. The floor plans were reorganized for a more equal distribution of bedroom spaces for family members and to create living spaces with different character and exterior views. A new wing was added to the south to provide a family room, a primary bedroom suite, and an elevator for convenience. A large dormer was added to the west elevation to provide more space for guest rooms and a deck on the west side was expanded to create a large enclosed garage at the southwest corner.

Distant physical landmarks such as Tillamook Head were modeled during the design phases so that new windows could be placed with unobstructed site lines from interior to exterior. A tall vertical circulation zone was created as a connector between the existing house and the new addition that provides dramatic contrast in interior scale and brings in late afternoon light to reflect off the Douglas Fir clad interior walls.

Seasonal prevailing winds and solar exposure were modeled and studied to optimize comfort for exterior spaces adjacent to the house in spring, summer, and fall. Wind driven water coming from the west and off the Pacific Ocean was taken into account in the selection of durable exterior materials, waterproofing methods, and the architectural detailing. Locally produced natural materials such as basalt, cedar, and Douglas Fir were used as interior and exterior finishes where possible. Large glazed areas of the house on the west elevation help to bring diffused daylight into the main living spaces of the house and limit the need for artificial light during the daytime