Name: The Wilkinson Residence
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 3300 square feet indoors, 500 square feet of deck space
Years lived in: 6
One look at the exterior of the Wilkinson house (which is referred to as "The Treehouse" by some and "Wave House" by others) and you know you're not about to enter an ordinary home. You may love this house. (Goodness knows, I do.) You may not. But that's not the point. Designed to suit the exact tastes of its occupant – who loves playing the viola, choral singing, and making ice cream on his deck – this house is an inspiring reminder of what's possible when you abandon trends and really think about the kind of home that will make you happy.
Beyond lending his name to the house, the homeowner prefers to maintain his privacy. However, we were lucky enough to chat with the architect, Robert Harvey Oshatz, who also took a hands-on role during the construction process.
This is obviously a unique home. But do you subscribe to any particular architectural style as a rule?
I don't work in styles. I design structures from the inside out, building something that suits the requirements of my client.
So how did the homeowner's requirements inspire this design?
He enjoys wine and making ice cream, playing the viola, choral singing, entertaining. The wavy ceiling was designed for acoustic reasons, to reflect sound when he plays his viola or plays music.
He has friends who cook, so he wanted a gourmet kitchen for them to cook in. He wanted a big deck for making ice cream in the summer time. He loves nature, so he wanted to be able to look out into the trees, open up the windows and doors, and listen to the birds sing.
He also wanted to use natural materials as much as possible, creating a continuation of the interior and exterior space. We saved all the trees on the site and made sure the design worked around the trees. Ultimately we wanted a structure that would be at peace in its environment and that people would feel at peace inside.
There's so much to love in this house. Now that a few years have passed since it was built, what's your favorite element today?
I love the little meditation room at the end of the kitchen. There's a little daybed that lets you look out on nature.
We had a lot of interns helping out – architectural students who were learning new skills on the job. The shingles on the exterior of the house were done by an intern who'd never done it before, and he did a beautiful job. Two other interns who had never framed before did all the framing, and their craftsmanship was amazing.
What kind of response does the house get from visitors?
People say they feel at peace within the house.
As an architect, what's your advice for anyone who wants to create their own dream home?
You don't need to hire a local architect; you can hire any architect, anywhere. If you want a house that is special and that reflects your personality and wishes, you have to search for an architect who can provide you with what you want, and not just settle for someone local. I work with clients all over the place. With today's technology, the client and the architect don't always have to be in the same part of the world.
It's the responsibility of the client to find an architect who can understand their dreams and make them a reality. Make sure you and your architect are compatible with one another. Find someone you feel comfortable talking with, with whom you can talk about your wishes. Ultimately, the client and the architect have to be able to talk so that they can move in the same direction and end up exactly where you need to be.
Thanks so much for the tour, Robert!
Images: Robert Harvey Oshatz
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Haooyhappyhappy! I can hear the birds! The spaces in this house are amazing. I love the many curves and rounds yet they work with the straight lines, too. It all flows so beautifully! A dream house, encompassing waves and the treehouse feelings. It's hard to get closer to nature than this. Materials are fantastic, too...love the odd shaped doors! Wonderful!
Lovely! its Falling-Water-Meets-Frank-Gherry
The architect's most important comment was that he designed the house from the inside out. I prefer, really prefer, classic house design, but the "inside out" concept is so very useful in designing rooms.
Makes me kind of dizzy, but it's very cool anyway.
this is absolutely freaking beautiful. i love the lines and the use of natural materials and how the house interacts with its natural setting. just gorgeous! (although - i think i watch too much "lost" b/c the first picture reminded me of the black rock :) )
Imaginative, bold, and beautiful! Love the preservation of the site. It really does feel like a treehouse. A very, very luxurious treehouse.
Interesting, but also very obviously a big secret. Several photos of the same areas. Not the best House Tour.
Beautiful outdoor space, appealing architecture (from an "acoustical" point of view.) I thought it an unique idea to build in the Grandfather clock. Haven't seen that done before.
I like this, but it's nothing original.
The architect Bart Prince has been doing this for decades.
http://www.bartprince.com/
@colellis: As has Robert:
http://www.oshatz.com/text/residential.htm
I love Prince's work as well. I'd move into his studio in a heartbeat.
I love this. This will seem strange, but it reminds me powerfully of childhood, the Rats of Nimh, and the mouse's house in the film. Must be the circular window.
I love the house but the interior decorating, brings it down. The furniture is very drab and completely distracts you from the lines of the interior.
This is a very beautiful building, but it doesn't really look like anyone lives there. Even the "homey" touches-- the flowers and fruit-- make it look more like a realtor's photo shoot than a home tour. Bummer, because it sounds like this guy really loves his home.
Since this is the home of the home's architect, I'm guessing these shots were taken to highlight the architecture, and for the architect's portfolio.
I thought I would like it better. It's absolutely impressive but it doesn't feel like a home. It would be a fun place to visit, though.
Oh dear. My comments keep getting deleted.
The kitchen looks great. The furnishings on the other hand not so great. Hopefully this is a nice enough critique of this home!
What a wonderful house and I really enjoyed seeing the interior images. A great blend with the surrounding landscape as well.
At patrick(the other one). It says that the owner of the house wanted to remain private, so they spoke with the architect instead. So it's not the architect that lives there.
I agree though. The interior decor is bland and boring, but I love, love, LOVE the outside.
why are these ads allowed to be on here?
where are the comment police?
Absolutely STUNNING exterior... just wow! But the inside was a bit of a letdown :( The interior, for me, is just nice (that kitchen is amazing), but there is just not that lived-in/homey feeling.
Finally - a house that is not rectangular, white and long. I love the organic nature of the design, the interesting spaces, the openness without being a box. Refreshing!
to continue on colellis' comment:
Bart Prince is actually a Bruce Goff student...Goff's work is worth checking out if you're more interested in the more organic, free-form residential work
I love the built in grandfather clock! It's a great detail. Really nifty house and AMAZING garden!
The house and garden are gorgeous. I would love to own this house. The interior furniture design and placements however felt rather uninspiring.
Unforgettable. I want to see what’s it’s like in winter. My dream house!
Wretched excess! I wonder how many trees were cut down to make this monstrous house nestled in this beautiful woodland setting.
Gorgeous exterior. But the furniture? It looked like a corporate retreat center with the horribly upholstered chairs and benches.
But the exterior- spectacular.
It's awesome, but even if I had the money I would probably never build something like this, just because it seems so hugely excessive. Unless I could have something like this, but a fifth the size?
Reminds me somehow of an owl perched in a tree. It's gorgeous, but as others have said, doesn't look very lived in or warm, despite all the wood.
Gorgeous and unique home, but having lived in Oregon, I would prefer to have more windows and glass. It can be incredibly gloomy during the rainy season, and I need all the light I can get.
daracox--
Then all the more reason for why the images might seem, to some, "unlived in."
"The wavy ceiling was designed for acoustic reasons, to reflect sound when he plays his viola or plays music."
Okay, okay, enough with the viola jokes! ("plays his viola OR plays music") ha ha
This guy designed a building that was supposed to be built in down town Portland in the 70's called the C.A. Bright Tower. I consider the fact that it was never realized as Portland's largest misfortune.
I love the idea of this house and the exterior but I thought the interior was a let-down. Many of the spaces seemed awkward (the kitchen looks positively claustrophobic, like the galley of a ship) and the finishes and furniture looked dated.
I think this is an interesting design, though I couldn't live in a space like this.
The outside is the best part, imo. Also, I really dig the "built-in" grandfather clock detail! However, the built-in couch looks like an RV couch.
Yes...very Bruce Goff...
It's an architectural masterpiece. The interior design in terms of furniture choice and placement leaves much to be desired. Though I do love that kitchen.
Different.
Don't know how far from the road or other houses this home is, but it feels like not enough has been made of the views. While a home in this location could have showcased the outdoors with larger windows or walls of windows, with this design, it's hard to focus on the outside due to the uniqueness of the house and its curves.
wonderful !
Um..was the photographer standing in a patch of poison ivy in that first exterior shot?? :\
Bilbo Baggins house in lothlorien by Zaha Hadid