LandCurrent provided the landscape architecture for this custom home built just outside of a small town in Oregon. The client saw the above design sketched by architect Jan Fillinger, and the home was constructed from there. Because the home was built on a steep hillside, a series of retaining walls, terraces and steps was necessary. The landscape that stretches out in front of the home consists of vegetated bioswales that help manage the drainage issues around the home. The care and precision in the design and craftsmanship of the home and its landscaped elements are reflected by the name chosen for it by the owners: FineLine.
Photos by Jon Jensen Photography

Sustainable design and contemporary architecture are perfectly fused together in this stunning hillside house and landscape in Oregon. The project achieved the U.S. Green Building Council's highest ranking, LEED for Homes Platinum certification. The home was designed to be 60 percent more energy efficient than a typical home of comparable size, and displays a modern atmosphere.

The landscape design extends the exceptional attention to craft, detail, and sustainability from the interior of the home to the surrounding landscape. The elements close to the house are geometric and finely crafted, and repeat the materials used in the building.

The concrete steps on the north side of the home, lit with WinonaLED step lights, are integrated with planting areas that contain locally sourced granite boulders. The hardscaping throughout the home is a combination of poured-in-place and preformed concrete. The home received a LEED Platinum certification, the highest ranking available for homes from the U.S. Green Building Council.

These geometric shapes give way to a landscape of native plants, granite boulders, and decomposed granite pathways, which blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. The client had fallen in love with an early sketch by architect Jan Fillinger, which depicted the house as an elegant horizontal bar across the existing hillside. With this sketch in hand, the homeowners decided to build the house high up on the steep hillside to take advantage of expansive views to the north. This location necessitated a series of retaining walls, terraces and steps. Local building code required a 14' wide driveway with a wide turn-around for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. The challenge was to locate and design these elements with minimum impact to the hillside and in keeping with the simple elegance of the architectural concept. The final product was designed with a precision that inspired the name for the home: FineLine.

Local code requires that residences have a minimum 14' wide turnaround for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. To facilitate this while keeping the space as green as possible, Grasspave2 (Invisible Structures) was used to line the sides of the driveway. Safe to drive on, the "Rough & Ready' eco-turf creates both aesthetic and environmental benefits, while meeting the 14' requirement.

Landscape architect Anita Van Asperdt of LandCurrent introduced an 11' high retaining wall to hold back the hillside and create space for a backyard patio. This patio captures warmth and light in early spring and fall through the uniquely designed amoeba-shaped openings in the retaining wall. A linear planter in front of the wall is faced with the same stained incense cedar boards that are used on the siding of the house, bringing coherence to the space. The main living room resides between this uniquely designed patio area and the expansive views to the north, thus tying the landscape on both sides of the house to the interior of the residence. Additional features of the house include finely crafted concrete steps on its north side. These steps are integrated with planted areas and an overlook platform.

The home is located just outside the boundary of a small but lively Oregon town. A winding path enables the owners to stroll directly from their home to the restaurants and shops downtown. This path is surfaced with decomposed granite and has juniper steps. Juniper trees are locally invasive, and the wood used for the steps was a byproduct from restoration efforts.

The 11' high retaining wall, with amoeba-like cutouts, holds back the hillside and serves as the backdrop for the backyard patio. The cedar boards that make up the planter adjacent to the wall, which contain scouring rush and monbretia next to a magnolia tree are the same stained boards that line the side of the house, tying the landscape to the home. The patio is carved into the native hillside.

The driveway up to the house has ribbons of vegetated, invisible pavement to create the width needed for emergency access. Grasspave2 by Invisible Structures, Inc was also used for the fire truck turnaround area. This treatment of emergency vehicle access areas creates a green space instead of a large concrete driveway, providing both aesthetic and environmental benefits.

Plantings enforce the seamless transition from native landscape to the highly crafted site. Most of the landscape has been restored with native grasses, shrubs and trees. Close to the home and on top of the garage roof, drought-tolerant ornamental grasses, perennials, and shrubs echo the native vegetation. A few choice trees and flowering plants that require more water have been planted directly adjacent to the home. Irrigation needs are minimal and restricted to plants near the house. Low-volume drip irrigation with flow controllers, moisture sensors, and timers further control unnecessary water use.

The transition from the native landscape of giant wild rye, sheep's fescue, and hummingbird sage, to the built environment is eased by the placement of granite boulders.

There were several drainage issues around the site, all of which were managed by bioswales. The home follows a contour on the hill and acts as a dam for surface and shallow subsurface drainage. This water, along with roof water and runoff from the driveway and other paved surfaces, was successfully redirected to bioswales. Even flush water generated by a state-of-the art climate control appliance ends up in one of the swales, where it is used to irrigate a patch of native Douglas iris.

The home's garage has a green roof with perennials, drought-tolerant ornamental grasses (Idaho fescue and sheep's fescue), and shrubs that echo the surrounding native vegetation. The landscape's minimal irrigation needs are controlled with moisture sensors, timers and flow controllers. Most of the plant material is native and drought tolerant; a select few trees and flowering plants that require more irrigation are placed close to the home.

Set in a native landscape with abundant wildlife, this project minimizes light pollution by using Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting LED landscape lights and WinonaLED step lights, which enable precise light intensity and minimal lighting spill. Additional manual switches and light sensors prevent unnecessary use of energy and lights.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

A close collaboration between architect, landscape architect, engineers and contractors ensured a high level of consistency, precision and an opportunity to integrate sustainable features.

A winding path leads from the home to nearby downtown restaurants and shops, giving the homeowners the option to walk from one location to the other. The path is constructed from decomposed granite with granite and juniper wood steps. Juniper is an invasive species in the area, and the wood used for the steps is a byproduct of restoration efforts.

Project Team
Landscape Architecture, LandCurrent
Anita Van Asperdt, RLA, Lead Landscape Architect
On-site project consultant
Kerry KenCairn, RLA
Architecture, Green Hammer
Jan Fillinger, AIA, LEED, AP, CPHC, Lead Architect
Key Consultants
Allan Goffe, PE, Structural Engineer
Mark Dew, PE, Civil Engineer
General Contractor, Green Hammer
Stephen Aiguier, Principal-in-Charge
Michael Spatzek, Construction Superintendent
Dana Hopkinson, Construction Manager
Site Contractors
Solid Ground Landscaping
Satterfield Construction (concrete)

Because the home follows the contour of the hill, it acts as a dam for surface and subsurface drainage. This water, including flush water generated by a climate control appliance, roof water, and runoff from the driveway and other paved surfaces, is redirected to bioswales around the home. Dura Heat river birch trees are planted next to the stairs.

Materials
Poured-in-place and preformed concrete.
Grasspave2 by Invisible Structures, Inc.
LED lighting
VistaPro landscape lights
WinonaLED step lights
Locally sourced granite boulders
Locally sourced decomposed granite
Locally sourced juniper timber