At the end of a gently curving, country lane, this home, a western interpretation of the traditional three-bay Chinese courtyard house, glows in the evening as light is cast through expansive glass walls. The Ausland+Smith design program provides shelter from, and connects to, the surrounding Pine and Juniper high desert forest as three house pavilions wrap around a central courtyard. Access to this courtyard space is provided by over-sized, glass and Douglas Fir sliding door panels. The largest set of sliding panels completely opens the wall at the dining area, providing true indoor/outdoor dining three seasons of the year. Internally, the home is divided sensibly between a sleeping pavilion containing two bedrooms/baths, a central entertainment pavilion containing the sitting room, dining area, kitchen and entry areas, and a work/play pavilion containing laundry facilities, television den and private art studio. In addition, a detached office/workshop/garage pavilion sits adjacent, and northwest of, the main house. Low-pitched roof lines, horizontal glass panels , the sliding door panels and a muted, darker earth tone exterior color scheme reinforce the oriental influences desired by the owners. Extended overhangs protect the expansive glass from the high desert summer sun, while allowing winter rays to penetrate deep into the home. Mid-winter, the sun's rays reach completely across the tile floors, providing passive solar gain to supplement the home's in-floor radiant heat system.

AUSLAND + SMITH

Modern Ranch

Steve Martin

2007

Tumalo, Oregon