Location: Bend, Oregon (Westside / Shevlin Park)
Program: Private Residence + ADU
Gross Floor Area: 2,800 sq. ft. Total (2,200 sq. ft. Main House + 600 sq. ft. ADU)
Performance: Passive House Standards (CPHB) & Fire-Hardened Envelope
The Narrative
The Scoria House is a rejection of the fragile "glass box." Situated in the high desert's volatile climate, the design concept utilizes the site's natural 5-foot basalt outcropping not as an obstacle, but as a formal datum. We partially carved the private quarters into the scoria rock to anchor the home, while allowing the social volumes to cantilever over the ledge.
This move creates a "protected transparency"—deep-set, high-performance apertures that frame the horizon while shielding the interior from the harsh summer sun and mountain wind. The result is a refined sanctuary that honors the tension between the volatility of the landscape and the precision of human craft.
The Strategy
- The Gear Library: Far more than a garage, this conditioned, museum-grade transition zone treats alpine equipment as art. It serves as the spiritual engine of the home, designed for the "4:00 AM start" ritual, featuring drainage for snowmelt and visibility from the main hallway.
- WUI-Compliant Shell: To meet strict fire codes without sacrificing warmth, the exterior is clad in Shou Sugi Ban (charred timber) and fiber-cement panels, creating a fire-hardened "bark" that mimics the site's charred history.
- The Basalt Float: The architecture navigates the topography by "floating" the public program over the existing lava flow, minimizing site disturbance while maximizing the psychological experience of the terrain
