Folded Corten

Location: Willamette Valley

Typology: Single Family Infill

Materiality: Corten Steel & Local Cedar

A building that ripens with the season

Most architecture fights against time, requiring constant paint and sealant to look "new." For this forest retreat, we chose a material that embraces time: Corten Steel.

When the panels were first installed, they were a gunmetal grey. Over the first wet winter, the Pacific Northwest rain reacted with the steel to form a stable, rust-colored oxide layer. This isn't decay; it's a protective shield. The result is a home that changes color with the weather—turning deep violet when wet and vibrant orange in the sunset—camouflaging the structure against the autumn leaves and red cedar bark of the site.

The plan is broken into three distinct volumes, separating the sleeping quarters from the communal living space. This deconstructed layout reduces the visual mass of the building and creates "in-between" spaces—outdoor decks and corridors that force the occupants to engage with the forest as they move from room to room.

• Wildfire Resilience: In an increasingly dry climate, the steel skin provides a non-combustible exterior shell, offering a layer of passive fire protection that wood siding cannot match.
• The "Hard/Soft" Contrast: The rugged, industrial exterior shell protects a delicate, warm interior lined with clear-grain hemlock and white oak. It creates a psychological feeling of safety—a warm core inside tough armor.
• Zero-Maintenance Lifecycle: The exterior requires no staining, sealing, or chemical treatments for the life of the building. It is a true "install and let nature take over" material strategy, aligning with our Red List Free goals.