PROJECT: Willamette Valley Residence, Sheridan, Ore.
ARCHITECT: Rockefeller Parnters Architects, El Segundo, Calif.
BUILDER: Hammer & Hand, Portland, Ore.
Modernism is a sweet spot for architect Chris Kempel, design director at Rockefeller Partners Architects. But for clients wanting a classic American farmhouse in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Kempel faced a challenge: How to include gables, porch, chimney, fireplace, and white exterior in a way that would resonate with his clients’ modern sensibilities while reflecting authentic farmhouse form and a sense of place?
(Photos: Rockefeller Partners Architects)
Exposing the home’s heavy timber framing was the first step; creating a massive fireplace and chimney was the second. Kempel designed the rest of the house around those features, partnering with Hammer & Hand, the Pacific Northwest builder known for its innovative, virtuoso approach to craft.
In modern homes, transitions between materials can’t be hidden with decorative molding; they must be seamlessly executed in plain sight. Here, those junctions are celebrated. Shown below from left to right, a wood beam and the steel chord of a truss become a sculptural element; the metal connector where ceiling beams meet bears a cutout of an iconic house shape; and the places at which beams and truss chord penetrate the chimney include a stone frame and airspace that serve to outline the opening.
While not all architects consider constructability, “we delight in that,” Kempel says. “The key is to be considerate of the materials.” Yet such merging only works because “each step has been meticulously planned for and executed, from framing to finish,” says site superintendent Stephanie Lynch of Hammer & Hand. “It was complicated to make all the elements and materials align, and it required absolute precision from the building team.”
Related Stories
Custom Builder
Floodproof on a Floodplain
An impressive addition to the IDEA Home series, the NEWLOOK Experience Home is a master class in engineering and creative design, with builder Michael Freiburger out-thinking an exceptionally tricky lot
Custom Builder
3 Questions Answered About Reliable Energy in Home Construction
Energy expert Bryan Cordill makes a case for why and how propane is an answer to growing concerns about reliability and resilience in home construction
Business
Custom Builder to Talk Color Design with Becki Owens at IBS
At this year's IBS, renowned designer Becki Owens will sit down with host James McClister, editor of Custom Builder, to discuss a variety of topics from basic color play in design to the Allura Spectrum palette, a collection of Sherwin-Williams colors curated for the benefit of pros
Business
PERC Highlights Sustainability and Efficiency at IBS with 'Clean Build Conversations'
Hear from industry standouts Matt Blashaw and Anthony Carrino at this hour-long Show Village event
Custom Builder
Telling a Story That Preserves the Past
Custom builder and historic restoration and preservation expert Brent Hull walks us through the careful details of his Pennsylvania Farmhouse project
Business
Defining Outdoor Living in 2024
Residential experts weigh in on outdoor living trends in new report
Construction
How to Air Seal the Garage
A poorly sealed wall or ceiling between the garage and the main house can let harmful fumes into the living space
Business
Taking Advantage of Incentives Through Weatherization
Industry insider Kristen Lewis walks us through the basics and benefits of weatherization
Custom Builder
2023: A Year of Case Studies
A look back at the custom homes and craftsman details we spotlighted last year
Customer Service
A Smart Home Built Smart
Custom builder August Homes blends efficient, high-tech home automation systems with high-performance, sustainable building strategies