HomeResidential ArchitectureHousesMeadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

Project: Meadow Residence
Architecture: Waechter Architecture
Principal Architect: Ben Waechter, FAIA
Project Architect: Lisa Kuhnhausen
Location: Eugene, Oregon, United States
Year: 2022
Photo credits: Lara Swimmer

The Meadow House is a new, 2,000-square-foot private residence in the College Hill district of Eugene, a few miles Southwest of the University of Oregon. The house takes its name from Madison Meadow, a landscape preserve and community park which lies at the heart of a neighborhood composed of modest single-family homes.

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

The family sought to create a residence adjacent to the meadow while honoring its character and greater value as a resource for the entire community. At the same time, they sought to bring their ways of living into closer dialogue with the surrounding neighborhood and the simple beauty of its signature landscape.

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

A “Meadow Within a Meadow”—From above, the house reads as a series of frames: the perimeter of the residential block, the outer boundary of the meadow, the simple rectilinear form of the house tucked into its northeast corner, and within, a central clearing that recalls the original preserve. This courtyard retains the same natural character and vegetation as the surrounding landscape and organizes the diverse functions and living spaces within the residence.

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

The single-level massing of the house is broken into four smaller pavilions. A freestanding garage and workshop volume anchors the northwest corner, and a kitchen volume is located to the northeast along the street. To the south, a bedroom suite and master suite are sited between the courtyard and the open meadow. Four terraces, two open and two enclosed glass window walls, hold the primary living areas of the house and offer an all-season connection to the landscape.

dining room, Waechter Architecture

Elemental Form and Construction—The walls of the four pavilions, the sloped roof, and the deep-set soffits of the Meadow House are entirely clad in ‘bonderized’ steel, which will weather naturally without additional paints or finishes. The house reads as a single mass carved and sculpted to create the covered terraces, courtyard and primary living spaces. This approach also dramatically reduces the need for additional materials or future maintenance. Its strong resistance to corrosion and water damage also allows the inward-sloping roofs to collect rainwater directly into the central garden. Overall, every design decision and material selection was made with an eye for economy, durability, and conservation.

living room, Waechter Architecture

Vitality and Connection—The simple forms and palette of the house allow the wild vitality of the meadow and the change of seasons to define the primary experience of place. Just as pathways and places of repose have found a home in the Meadow, the house seeks that same sense of connection, not as an imitation, but as a mediator that can heighten awareness and reverence for all that it offers.

kitchen, Waechter Architecture

Belonging both to the network of neighborhood streets and houses and equally to the meadow itself, it is hoped that the Meadow House will be a meeting place that will help to build a stronger community and stewardship of this uncommon treasure and irreplaceable resource.

bathroom, Waechter Architecture

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

Meadow Residence / Waechter Architecture

floor plan

Subscribe to our newsletter

MullenLowe Ad Agency Offices in Winston-Salem

After a successful teaming for the design of their Boston headquarters, MullenLowe engaged TPG Architecture to design its new office in Winston-Salem, NC: a 37,500 square foot space in the city’s newly developed Wake Forest Innovation Quarter.

Smith Tower Penthouse in Seattle by Graham Baba Architects

Built in 1914, the Smith Tower was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi upon its completion. No expense was spared in the construction of this ambitious 462-foot-tall building, with interiors finished in rich materials and ornate detailing.

Nearhome, Rome / Brain Factory

The project of this B&B located in the heart of the Prati district in Rome, not only enjoys an excellent position well served by public transport and close to places of cultural interest

Recommended Stories