Have you ever wondered how an experienced architect’s mind works?
Organic Architect Robert Oshatz, founder of Robert Harvey Oshatz, Architect established in 1971, has proven that what the mind can think of is always achievable.
The Elk Rock Residence
An Oregon gem
Robert Oshatz was the architect, builder, and owner of this stunning “retro home” that’s located in Oregon.
Built between the skies and water, this 3,500-square-foot home hosts a sweeping view of the Willamette River and Mount Hood.
Oshatz designed the Elk Rock residence at the beginning of 1988 and it’s been his humble home since then.
The house resembles a funnel and it is anchored to a 30-degree slope which was then considered an “unbuildable land.”
“Emotionally, I wanted a structure that felt that it was soaring out into space, almost defying gravity in a sense, but at the same time, tied back to the land itself so that it feels that it’s a part of the land and it belongs to this one particular site,” Oshatz said, talking about his vision in building this house.
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Considering its funnel-shaped structure, the house gets larger in view and actual area as you go to its higher levels.
It has a living area that hosts a spectacular view of nature outside, a children’s bedroom, a dining area, a master’s bedroom, a TV area, a study area, a bathroom, a dressing room, and of course, Oshatz’s architectural studio.
And every inch is a beauty.
According to him, most of the materials used in building the house are just natural materials and their natural colors.
He wanted the house to blend in with the environment where it’s standing.
The organic architect also revealed that the main living area doesn’t have parallel walls, so neither do the floor and ceiling.
Some of the furniture in the main living area like the desks, beds, and kitchen table, are all built-in.
It’s more than a house.
It’s a home.
With the Elk Rock’s amazing view from above, the height of his home, he’s able to watch birds freely flying up in the sky.
However, Oshatz wanted a structure that soared out into space while keeping its foundation on the ground where it truly belongs.
“The important thing in architecture, in my mind, is to design a structure that’s at peace with its environment, and people feel at peace within the structure itself,” he said .
Oshatz concluded by saying, “After I completed the house, I realized that I’ve always dreamt since childhood of living on water or by water. And I realize that this might be the closest I ever get to water. So, I decided to stay in the house and live in it, and I’ve been in it now for about 33 years.”
Of course, viewers had much to say.
One YouTube user who goes by the name “John Hughel” commented on the video of Oshatz’s Elk Rock Residence and he shared his unforgettable experience.
“…He gave me a full tour of this “Elk Rock Residence,” which he had only been living in for just a few years. It really was an incredible structure and use of the site along the Willamette River. In the past several years, I’ve wondered about the house and his work as an architect, so finding this video today was a fascinating trip back almost 30 years and visiting this treetop home.”
Take the virtual tour in the video below to fully appreciate this behemoth beauty of a home!
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