Fazan by SRM - Under Construction In the Gorge

2010-12-01T14:15:00.001-08:00

Completed Home

2010-08-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

Summer Progress

The Hood River house is almost complete! The pavers are installed, the pool has been filled, and lawn chairs are out and ready to be tanned on.

The exterior of the fireplace is made out of Core-10, which has this weathered appearance that contrasts nicely wit the rest of the sleek exterior.

The siding is finally complete!

The awnings have been installed. They will filter the light that enters the house to reduce heat.

The partially sunken tub is now ready for use. Guests can soak while taking in the beautiful view stretched before them. The huge glass sliding doors make the soaking room and the patio feel connected, as though one just extends into the next.

The planters are just getting started. By spring the kitchen garden will be filled in. And look at the beautiful view of Mt. Hood in the distance!

Jon, the owner, designed this kitchen with some consultation from SRM. The cool and contemporary cabinetry is from IKEA.

2010-04-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

As Summer Approaches

Sloping metal roofs rise gently out of the native grade. Likewise, their color blends easily with the hills beyond. From this angle, you can see the snow guard that runs the length of the roof near the bottom of the slope. This will help control snow and ice fall from the roof onto the walkway below.

The boardform detail on the concrete walls has really proven itself worthwhile. The added texture brings a real depth to the design.

The siding is nearly finished and paint color will be selected soon.

2010-02-25T14:07:00.000-08:00

Glimmers of Spring

Almost time for a swim! Framing for the pool is nearly complete. The pool will ultimately be about 4’ deep and run 75’ east and west and be filled by water warmed entirely by a solar hot water system.

The garage has only one wood framed wall, the other three are concrete – and two of those retain nearly 5’-0” of soil.

Looking west along the main hall, natural light fills the space. At the end of the wall is a perfect place to hang a favorite piece of artwork.

Electrician Todd, framer Chuck, new home owner and GC Jon, and builder Jason conspire following an afternoon of locating electrical switching.

The vaulted ceilings and expansive windows in the Great Room will make a fabulous setting for entertaining.

2010-01-12T14:47:00.000-08:00

New Year Update

Almost all the windows are in and it’s clear that the house is going to let in some beautiful light and afford spectacular views in all directions.

The Garage roof isn’t yet installed, but the building has really taken shape. The two back walls of the garage will function as big retaining walls for the hillside behind it.

The roofing at the house is almost entirely installed. Just a little more to go.

The Garage wall facing the house gets its handsome texture from a construction technique called board-forming.

The Spa tub will be partly recessed into the slab floor. Soaking there, guests will have gorgeous views out of the Hood River Valley through the double wide sliding glass doors.

The vaulted ceilings and expansive windows in the Great Room will make a fabulous setting for entertaining.

2009-12-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

A Slab in Winter
Work has been focused on the exterior shell, so now the roof is up just in time for winter to come rolling in to the valley. Windows and doors will be arriving on site in a week.

Here we see the preparation of the floor prior to the cement slab being poured. Lots of rebar, vapor barrier and insulation block. After the slab is poured, work will commence on interior walls.

2009-11-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

Exit Autumn
The happy homeowner is reviewing the plans for the master suite.

Framing continues as autumn is nearing its end. There is definitely a sense of urgency to get the roof up before snow starts to fall.

2009-10-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

Harvest and Framing
Construction was delayed slightly by harvest, but everything is back on schedule. Unbelievably, two weeks before the above photo was shot, there was 1/2 an inch of snow.

This is where the primary driveway will be.

This is the entry vestibule looking toward the kitchen and living room beyond. Oh, and the Hood River Valley beyond that.

Look at this view from the living room. Unbelievable!

This corner of the living room will look out over the pool.

The opening to the right will be the outdoor fireplace.

Here's the "board formed" technique that was described in an earlier post on this blog. The finished product turned out exactly as we had hoped, thanks to the wonderful skills of the concrete crew.

From the master bedroom looking toward the spa. The interior walls have not been framed yet.

All of these big openings that look out to the view are located in the primary circulation hall and master bedroom.

This end of the house has a secure storage room that's accessed from the pool deck so outdoor furniture will be locked away when the house is unoccupied.

Future garage designed to look like a classic root cellar.

This is the back retaining wall, and the jog in the concrete is there to accommodate a bench and cocktail tables designed specifically for evening wine tastings. It's like a secret garden.

Just west of the house is this visitor's parking area. The roof of this structure will accommodate solar apparatus used to heat the pool.

Here is another shot of the board forms created by Mission Construction, the concrete sub contractor. They used cedar fencing that was pressure washed on site to bring out more of the grain. The boards are then installed inside the forms prior to the pour. You'll be able to see the detail of the forms in the finished pour. This for the garage.

2009-10-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

Pour Day
Everything's on schedule. The concrete crew piggybacked with the excavators just as planned. Everyone working on the project has been amazing and professional.

This photo shows part of the elevated foundation near the pool. Since it's so visible, we did this cool "board formed" technique on the concrete, so the inside of the foundation forms are lined with rough faced boards.

Here's a deep little square hole where the japanese-style soaking tub will be recessed in to the floor of the spa.

2009-09-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Excavation Day
While designing the building, we paid close attention to the existing terrain, so with the least amount of disturbance to the surrounding area we'll be able to tuck the back of the structure in to the gently sloping hill (which is what the photo above shows). The front of the building area, which is where the pool will be, will be elevated to create privacy from the entry drive.

This photo shows how the earth that was cut away from the rear of the building pad is redistributed to the front to create the future raised terrace, allowing us to remove as little soil as possible from the site.

2009-06-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

The Design
The aesthetic of the project takes it cue from agricultural buildings in the area, so the materials are simple and straight forward; metal panels, lap siding, standing seam roof, and aluminum louvers. The massing is also uncomplicated with shed roofs rising in the direction of sun and views.

The plan is based on indoor/outdoor relationships, so when the doors are opened (and there are a lot of doors) the pool terrace literally becomes the primary living space of this house. The spa and kitchen together comprise nearly half the square footage of this house, so it truly is a retreat for relaxing and enjoying the abundance of this region.

As with all SRM projects, the environment is taken to heart. Since Fazan is located in the rainshadow of the Cascades, it enjoys a much sunnier (and hotter) climate than most Pacific NW locations. As mentioned above, we wanted to open the house up to the landscape, but we also had to be careful not to have so much glass that the house overheated in the summer. So, at most of the south facing windows, we designed sleek, louvered awnings that filter hot summer light without interfering with the view. In colder months, the low winter sun slips in under the awnings to warm the concrete floors.

The pool could’ve been a big drag on the electric bill, but instead, we’re installing over 400 square feet of solar collector panels that will heat the pool without pulling energy from the grid. Though there is an upfront cost, the panels are relatively inexpensive, require almost no maintenance, and will pay for themselves in about five years. The pool terrace will also have a very cool shower with water heated naturally in copper tubes through solar gain.

Ann Scheuerell of SRM worked alongside Michael and managed the design development and construction documents. She is truly the best in the business.

2009-05-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

Day 1: The Initial Site Visit
Just an hour's drive from Portland, the building site is nestled amongst existing vinyards and fruit orchards in a valley between the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood, just outside the town of Hood River.

The site gently slopes to the south and has an incredible view of Mt. Hood and the surrounding agricultural bounty. On this site visit, the sky was a little overcast, so the mountain isn't visible.

The pear orchard that populates most of the property is 85 years old. The orchard is completely organic. Always has been.

Because there is an existing clearing, we're going to be able to locate the building in a manner that disturbs very few of the pear trees.

This photo shows more of the existing clearing, plus a cut in the grading that we'll also take advantage of while designing the house.

A surprise feature of the property is a secluded irrigation canal on a forested ridge just above the building site. It feels a lot like the french countryside. This ridge also shelters the building site from the infamous Gorge winds.