A Central Oregon Home Was Designed to Connect to the Land, Water, and Sky
It’s an oasis near an urban setting.
Jeremy Bittermann
Set along a downtown stretch of river rapids in central Oregon, this 6,500-square-foot new build is equal parts urban and wild. “The site is defined by high-desert geology: lava flows, sheer basalt canyons, and perfectly shaped cinder cones in reds, blacks, silvers, and buff tans,” says Corey Martin, principal at Hacker. “Sage, rabbitbrush, manzanita, and red-barked ponderosa soften the terrain, while the arid climate produces crystalline light and a resinous scent unique to the region. Rather than simply occupying this landscape, the architecture amplifies it—deepening awareness of the river’s force, the industrial structures across the water, and the drama of sky and stone.”
Jeremy Bittermann
The clients—a retired couple with two adult children who live nearby—wanted a home that was connected to nature and river outside, but that also had visual privacy from the nearby downtown area. Additionally, they envisioned a place where they could host large gatherings and major life celebrations, both inside and outside.
Jeremy Bittermann
The new build is able to do all of the above and more—it features three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, a three-car garage, a workshop, a large utility room, gym, office, and two big outdoor terraces (one with a fire pit and the other for cooking and eating).
Jeremy Bittermann
Corey says every decision was designed to heighten connection to place and create moments of stillness within the flow—its linear form traces the river, its roof planes tilt to the sky, and its courtyards pull the landscape inward.
Jeremy Bittermann
“Arrival from the street begins with the home’s low-slung profile and layered, shifting walls that guide a mindful progression toward the entry garden,” Corey says. “Board-formed concrete and massive, deliberately placed boulders introduce an unexpected sense of scale—fractured, faceted, and colored in matte grays and oranges that echo the surrounding geology. As the path widens into the entry courtyard, the home reorients visitors toward water and sky, framing a dialogue between the rapids and the urban fabric beyond. A thick blackened-steel front door with a carved, faceted slot extends this sculptural materiality into the threshold.”
Jeremy Bittermann
As you walk inside, you’re met with a soaring living space with a sculptural fireplace that anchors the main living areas. The kitchen wraps around the fireplace and was designed as a space to gather with its large island and fireside lounge area.
Jeremy Bittermann
Jeremy Bittermann
There’s also an eating nook that makes you feel like you’re being suspended over the water thanks to its floor-to-ceiling glass and panoramic views. Outside of the living room is the first outdoor area—a terraced garden with built-in seating and a central fire pit.
Jeremy Bittermann
“Circulation through the home follows a central spine punctuated by alternating north- and south-facing courtyards,” Corey explains. “Each captures a distinct quality of daylight and sky, dissolving indoor–outdoor boundaries and expanding adjacent spaces like the private dining room and living area. Movement becomes a sequence of shifting atmospheres—shadow to brightness, enclosure to openness.”
Jeremy Bittermann
Along the spine is an office clad in vertical-grain fir, while a home gym on the other side of the home looks out onto the river garden.
Jeremy Bittermann
Jeremy Bittermann
The primary suite features a covered deck perched above the river and a bathroom that is awash with daylight thanks to framed openings and a skylight.
Jeremy Bittermann
In the east wing of the house are the two guest rooms that share a bathroom lined in fluted white tile.
Jeremy Bittermann
The end result is a beautiful, visually layered home that emphasizes its natural surroundings. “Together, these orchestrated spaces create more than a home: They form a continuous experience shaped by river, rock, sky, and city,” Corey says. “Every element—from the smallest tile to the largest view—is crafted to cultivate a deeper appreciation of this extraordinary place where the natural and built worlds meet in constant, dynamic exchange.”
Principal Designer: Corey Martin
Project Architect: Lewis Williams
Team: Jennie Fowler, Jake Freauff, Scott Barton-Smith, Laura Klinger
