Building

1st Place Winner

Project:

Orchid St. Cityhomes

Firm:

Building Arts Workshop, LLC

503.233.0112

http://www.buildingartsworkshop.com

Size:

4,000 sf

Budget:

$1,378,000

Contractor:

Building Arts Workshop, LLC

Architect:

Building Arts Workshop, LLC

Interior Designer:

Building Arts Workshop, LLC

Landscape:

Thomas Bly Landscapes, Inc

“Good incorporation of sustainability. Great use of space, light, and volume.” —Dennis Allen

The Orchid Street Cityhomes are not your typical duplexes. Each unit, spreading its wings from a shared wall in the garage, swells into a two-story, sunlight-drenched abode. Inspired by Japanese architecture, designers and builders Jeff and Tracy Prose wanted to infuse the spaces with a sense of calm.

Bamboo-lined stone footpaths trail through the backyard nestled between the two structures. Skylights open via remote control, letting hot air out and bringing cool air inside.

The open floor plan makes for an airy, luminous feel: The first floor is open from the front to the back of the house, and the second-floor rooms are arranged around this central two-story space. In the kitchen, a compact structure made of reclaimed Douglas fir houses flush cabinets, appliances, shelving, and a powder room. The stairs are made of fir slats, woven together in a Japanese style, with open risers.

The project’s location (an urban infill site in Southwest Portland), its dense landscaping, and its reuse of materials all helped to secure it a LEED Platinum rating. New technology is also integral to its energy efficiency: A rain-screen wall filters rainwater that’s used for irrigation, toilets, and laundry; radiant heating warms surfaces; and heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) draw in fresh air, which is filtered and heated before being released inside. The stairway was constructed of bleacher seats salvaged from an Astoria school, and the kitchen countertops were produced on Sauvie Island using recycled glass from Seattle’s curbside recycling program.

- Xylia Buros