The Eagle Rock Retreat is a vacation home for a trio of siblings, located on the property where they collectively went on family vacations in their youth. The project site is located along the north bank of the McKenzie River, and features old-growth trees and a breathtaking view of Eagle Rock, a basalt column rock formation at the river’s edge. The existing A-frame house is in poor condition and will be removed. However, the roof beams will be planed and reused in the new structure, where they will be stained a contrasting color to pay homage to the childhood cabin.

The new design features 3 “pods” with living spaces and a fourth garage building. The three pods are oriented toward the south in order to open the view to the river and Eagle Rock and to maximize daylight exposure on the heavily-wooded site. The living spaces open out to large exterior decks which are not only nice to lounge on, but also serve as the primary means of circulation from one pod to the next. 

A primary objective of this project was to “tread lightly” on the land, which became quite literally one of the key design features—pier foundations. The design diagram of this project is quite simple as the spaces are divided into “dry” and “wet” zones. The “dry” living spaces (bedrooms, living room, dining room) are constructed to be floating above the landscape on pier foundations, anchored along the north side by masonry buildings that contain the “wet” service spaces (bathrooms, kitchen). The “dry” spaces utilize wood frame construction and are clad in wood panel & batten siding, giving them a sense of lightness as the landscape flows between and around the concrete piers that support them. The “wet” spaces are constructed of ground face concrete block, and feel very solid and heavy as the masonry penetrates into the ground, alluding to the weathered rock formation across the river.