Schechter Homestead | Redmond, OR

Building one’s own home is one of the toughest jobs for an architect, especially one considered “green.”

That’s probably because it’s hard to sit on both sides of the conference table.

But it all got easier with the bathing ritual of the Japanese

home that would naturally foster continuity of inner and outer environments.

The conceptual design for a deep soaking tub featured a solar heated intimate meditative space with dedicated view of a private micro garden.

The rest just fell into place. Though drawn to certain Japanese architecture, we were careful to avoid imitation.

We pursued new interpretations of sustainable living with passive solar heating and cooling as a

central design strategy. The house has many innovative features, including a solar slab that links

passive solar radiation and convective air drawn under the entire floor slab.

The South orientation of the house includes a small array of solar panels on the roof which provides

domestic hot water and a boost to the solar slab.

A blend of living lightly on the land in a modest spacious green home is an exercise in kinship.

Contractor: Meloling Construction Services | Bend, OR