Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Architect Robert Oshatz welcomes viewers into the Elk Rock House, a home he both designed and lives in, set into the hillside landscape of Portland, Oregon. The project reflects a design approach rooted in observing a site closely first, then allowing the architecture to grow from what is already there rather than imposing a fixed form onto it.
The tour begins in Oshatz’s studio, where drawings and studies reveal how the house was shaped by the contours of the land. He describes a process that starts from the inside of the home and moves outward, so the exterior becomes a direct reflection of how the spaces are meant to be experienced on a functional level. From the beginning of this project, the site itself guided the form, including the fact that the hillside is not treated as a flat surface for a conventional box; instead, the house bends with the land, using soft arcs and sweeping lines that mirror the natural slope and flow of the terrain.
As the house comes into view, stonework grounds the lower structure into the slope while horizontal cedar cladding rises above it, selected to relate to materials found in the Pacific Northwest. The shift between stone and wood marks a transition from earth to air, with the upper portions of the home opening more fully toward light and surrounding views.
The main living level is positioned at the top of the house, where Oshatz placed the communal spaces to take advantage of the strongest views. Expansive glazing brings in changing weather and daylight, a response to Portland’s often overcast climate. Inside, cedar continues across interior surfaces, creating continuity between exterior and interior materials. Additionally, a semi-circular family space is located near the main level, with a built-in desk and sliding glass panels that allow the sleeping area to be closed off when needed. Sandblasted glass introduces a subtle graphic layer that abstracts the floor plan with detail without interrupting the calm material palette.
As the tour continues, we step inside the primary bedroom which is designed almost entirely as built-in architecture, with integrated storage, shelving, and a comfortable bed that sits directly within the structure of the room. The lovely result is a retreat that feels carved from the same language as the rest of the house rather than furnished afterward. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, curved walls continue the semicircular geometry of the home. This shape creates space for a long window seat that looks out over the Willamette River, with Mount Hood visible in the distance.
Overall, throughout the tour, Oshatz returns to the idea that the house is not separate from its environment. From the way materials continue from interior to exterior to the way light moves through the curved spaces, the Elk Rock House is presented as an extension of the hillside itself, shaped by nature yet designed for everyday life.
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Architect Robert Oshatz welcomes viewers into the Elk Rock House, a home he both designed and lives in, set into the hillside landscape of Portland, Oregon. The project reflects a design approach rooted in observing a site closely first, then allowing the architecture to grow from what is already there rather than imposing a fixed form onto it.
The tour begins in Oshatz’s studio, where drawings and studies reveal how the house was shaped by the contours of the land. He describes a process that starts from the inside of the home and moves outward, so the exterior becomes a direct reflection of how the spaces are meant to be experienced on a functional level. From the beginning of this project, the site itself guided the form, including the fact that the hillside is not treated as a flat surface for a conventional box; instead, the house bends with the land, using soft arcs and sweeping lines that mirror the natural slope and flow of the terrain.
As the house comes into view, stonework grounds the lower structure into the slope while horizontal cedar cladding rises above it, selected to relate to materials found in the Pacific Northwest. The shift between stone and wood marks a transition from earth to air, with the upper portions of the home opening more fully toward light and surrounding views.
The main living level is positioned at the top of the house, where Oshatz placed the communal spaces to take advantage of the strongest views. Expansive glazing brings in changing weather and daylight, a response to Portland’s often overcast climate. Inside, cedar continues across interior surfaces, creating continuity between exterior and interior materials. Additionally, a semi-circular family space is located near the main level, with a built-in desk and sliding glass panels that allow the sleeping area to be closed off when needed. Sandblasted glass introduces a subtle graphic layer that abstracts the floor plan with detail without interrupting the calm material palette.
As the tour continues, we step inside the primary bedroom which is designed almost entirely as built-in architecture, with integrated storage, shelving, and a comfortable bed that sits directly within the structure of the room. The lovely result is a retreat that feels carved from the same language as the rest of the house rather than furnished afterward. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, curved walls continue the semicircular geometry of the home. This shape creates space for a long window seat that looks out over the Willamette River, with Mount Hood visible in the distance.
Overall, throughout the tour, Oshatz returns to the idea that the house is not separate from its environment. From the way materials continue from interior to exterior to the way light moves through the curved spaces, the Elk Rock House is presented as an extension of the hillside itself, shaped by nature yet designed for everyday life.
Subscribe to Open House TV on YOUTUBE: bit.ly/openhouseyoutubesub
Open House TV INSTAGRAM: bit.ly/2T0aorL
Open House TV TWITTER: bit.ly/2szkqEX
Open House TV FACEBOOK: bit.ly/2TXSztC
