Notes from April 2009

Staying at Neal Creek

Paul and Amy graciously allowed us to stay at their Neal Creek retreat for the weekend. We were excited to see the place, as no amount of measuring and taping the floor in our work studio could give us a true sense of the room volume and proportions that have been under consideration. We needed to see an example of the real thing. Standing in the Neal Creek house allowed us to observe possible window and door sizes, options for the kitchen bar, bathroom proportions, as well as good scale for bedrooms and hallways. Paul and Amy have created a truly enjoyable space, a house which adds to ones sense of well-being. The surrounding lot and adjacent creek further reinforce the sense of tranquility. The first day was sunny with a slight breeze, yesterday was a bit over cast, and today has been rainy. Each day has brought with it the subtle play of light in the house interior and exterior. It's exactly the kind of variation in weather one could hope for in observing the character of a house. In the end, the stay has served two invaluable purposes (1) the opportunity to see a real example of what we hope to build in North Portland, and (2) a chance to get a bit of respite from the urban craziness that has come to define much of our lives.

April 12, 2009  –  permalink