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The idea of the Gallery House, a new construction, began with the clients'
primary objective, which was to take the advantage of the breathtaking
view to the northeast of Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens. The concept
that we brought to the table was the creation of corridors that extend
the line of sight through the house in both directions. These generous
corridors allow light and air to flow freely throughout the house and
allowed us to divide the home into several programmatic volumes: semi-
public space, the gym and office; private space, the primary suite; public
space, kitchen, living room, and dining room; and the garage. These
become evident from the exterior as layered volumes from all sides of
the house.
Inside, while the active views toward the mountains are dramatic, the long
passive views through the house are soothing to the eye. The generous
corridors give the sense of simple luxury. In addition, the views through
windows and spaces create a layering effect on the inside of the house.
Outside, the layering of volumes and material adds depth and interest.
The simple rooflines are dramatic and there are unique perspectives
from all sides of the house. A challenging part of the design was that the
couple came from different backgrounds and had competing thoughts
on what feels like a home. It was a discovery process for both, and the
project was unified with mutual interest in the use of natural materials,
stucco, multiple building volumes with vaulted ceilings, and the wish to
invite natural light and views into the spaces.
Photographs by SORA design
Designed by SORA design, Portland, OR, page 214
GALLERY HOUSE
Ridgefield, WA
