William Kaven Architecture designed this incredible contemporary waterfront home nestled on the east bank of the Willamette River in the Oak Grove neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. In addition to offering a sweeping panorama of the river and its wildlife, this 4,607-square-foot home overlooks boat docks, freight barges, and an early 20th-century railroad bridge, recalling the city’s industrial roots.

The design is oriented around a large maple tree that already existed on the site, allowing the entire home to continuously open up from the river to the courtyard. The family who commissioned the home expressed a desire for a design that would accommodate extended visits from friends, children, and grandchildren while still offering distinct zones of privacy.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECTURE / INTERIORS William Kaven Architecture BUILDER JRA Green Building STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Butler Consulting, Inc.

The solution was a design that recalls a scaled-down compound, complete with a detached casita that can accommodate up to two guests. Upon approach, visitors enter into a spacious courtyard, a feature inspired by the architects’ New Mexico origins. Straight across the courtyard from the entrance, the glazed wall of the main house offers a direct sightline through the living area to the river.

The home’s floor-to-ceiling windows allow the courtyard to feel less like an enclosure than a liminal space that furnishes a dramatic reveal of the breathtaking views to the west.

With an exterior constructed of cedar, aluminum, and board-formed concrete, this dwelling is a modern addition to the neighborhood, which consists primarily of 60s- and 70s-era ranch-style homes.

The home’s interior design showcases the owners’ substantial collection of Modern American and Italian furniture. The understated but sophisticated material palette includes rift-sawn white oak cabinetry, Corian countertops, exposed aggregate concrete floors, built-in fireplaces, chevron-patterned oak floors, and plaster walls.

What We Love: This gorgeous home on the Willamette River provides exquisite views of wildlife and river activity from its comfortable perch. We love the pops of color of the modern furnishings in the living room and the soothing waterside views through large walls of glazing. The backyard patio with its wood-burning fireplace is the perfect spot to lounge and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of this home’s location.

Tell Us: What are your overall thoughts on the design of this waterfront dwelling? Let us know in the Comments below, we enjoy reading your feedback!

Note: Check out a couple of other fabulous home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign in the state of Oregon: See this amazing stone cottage in Oregon: Hobbit House at Dragonfly Knoll and An Oregon lake house gets a beautiful renovation for lakeside living.

The back patio includes an outdoor living area organized around a large wood-burning fireplace with a backdrop that includes the Lake Oswego River Bridge and one of the city’s premier riverfront parks.

PHOTOGRAPHER Jeremy Bittermann