The Bridlemile Residence is a LEED Platinum, zero energy custom home in the West Hills of Portland, Oregon. Once a cavernous, chateau-inspired 1940s house, it has been transformed into a bright and bold, sustainable home filled with natural light and updated with modern detailing and functionality.

Given that the house had been in the family for generations, there was a strong desire by our client to preserve some of the original home’s unique features while incorporating modern upgrades such as smart home controls, photovoltaic panels and super-efficient mechanical systems. With health and comfort as a critical goal, we upgraded the entire structure to create a super-insulated and airtight home.

We preserved much of the original structure, including the exposed heavy-timber trusses. Painting the trusses black lent a dramatic quality to the vaulted spaces. From the stained woodwork and recycled quartz counters to the custom steel fireplace and barn doors, the color black became an essential tool to offset the bright whites of this modern home.

The open floor layout creates an expansive space for hosting large weekend gatherings and spending quality time with family. The 22-foot-long accordion door, in conjunction with the 15-foot-long triple-pane skylight, ensures ample natural daylight and views within the great room, while the south-facing awnings protect these spaces from overheating during the summer months.

White stucco clads most of the home, with black accents in the Japanese architecture style of shou sugi ban featured between the large aperture windows and doors. This limited exterior palette, coupled with the sleek photovoltaic panels on its black metal roof for solar power, creates a simple yet strong exterior aesthetic that harmonizes with the home’s black and white interiors. Photos by George Barberis

Watch a short video about the Bridlemile Residence.