The River House is a stunning weekend cottage retreat that is nestled at the base of the Cascade foothills, opening to the banks of the Columbia River in eastern Washington, designed by McClellan Architects. The house was designed for a young family of four with a separate guest bunkhouse perched over the detached garage and outdoor rooms that define the grounds, creating a seamless relationship between inside and out. The home takes full advantage of the views to the river and the sage brush covered mountains. As one descends through the site the building forms open, embracing the site.

The architects also designed a lower outdoor dining room just off of the pool so that the family can enjoy the long summers. “It was important to have the house mediate between the wet, green makeup of the river and the dry, seared terrain of the hills behind,” state the architects. The living and dining areas are situated on the second level of the main house to take advantage of the river views. “With the backdrop of the river and mountains, we wanted to have huge windows that would allow the river to become our art,” says the home owner.

Photos: Courtesy of McClellan Architects