Project of the Week – Columbia Bluff House

Architect: Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects

Location: White Salmon, WA

Photo: David Papazian

Perched high above the mighty Columbia River in the Columbia River Gorge, the Columbia Bluff House proudly stands. This unique dwelling, nestled amidst the verdant forests of the bluff, offers stunning, 180-degree views of the Gorge, Mt Hood, and the city of Hood River. Designed by Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects, this is a masterpiece in simple modern architecture. 

“Two simple gable cedar boxes with metal roofs, connected by a covered walk, lead you into this two-level house,” explains Timothy Schouten, lead architect for this project. “The orientation of the living spaces to the south allows the residents to soak in the breath-taking panorama.” 

The property’s long, narrow forested site dictated this innovative layout, with one box accommodating the garage and attached exercise room, rotated 90 degrees from the main dwelling. The house is a dream retirement home for a professional couple relocating from Seattle to pursue their passion for skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and windsurfing. 

From the outset, environmental considerations were integral to the design. By minimizing the house’s footprint and incorporating solar roof panels for complete off-grid power, along with super high-efficiency HVAC and over-insulated roofs/walls, the design achieved remarkable sustainability.

In addition to innovative design, another way they minimized the house’s footprint was through material choice. Real Cedar was used extensively throughout the home. All exterior walls, the covered walk, and the covered deck ceiling soffits were clad in Fineline Tongue and Groove cedar. 

The GSW team knows opting for sustainably harvested wood, such as Real Cedar, is a green choice. Not only is it a renewable resource, but it helps fight climate change by capturing and storing carbon from the atmosphere. 

Real Cedar is also a versatile material. That’s because it’s pitch and resin free, which means it accepts and holds a wide range of finishes. For this project, they pre-aged the cedar with a special treatment, allowing it to naturally age with the weather, enhancing the warmth of the exterior and the building’s affinity with its surroundings.

The wood’s rich tonal range also worked beautifully with the other materials. “The warm natural cedar siding and complimentary dark bronze metal roof and windows caught everyone’s attention,” says Schouten.

In terms of grades, they selected a beautiful knotty grade of cedar. According to Schouten, “Tight knot T&G cedar was the perfect choice, its weathering characteristics allowing it to age gracefully over time and its simple, uncluttered appearance enhancing the simple exterior forms.”

Indeed, the house is a testament to the timeless appeal and sustainable qualities of Real Cedar. “Our clients loved the idea of using Real Cedar, especially considering the large cedars abundant on the site. The cedar brought an essential touch of local character and warmth to their dream retirement home,” Schouten says.

Real Cedar Specs

Grade: Select Knotty 

Size 1×4 Fineline

Fastening: Blind nail 

Applied Finish: Weathering treatment 

Western Red Cedar Supplier: Lakeside Lumber