This house looks like a spaceship landed in the Oregon woods
You have probably seen some unusual houses in your time, but this one in Oregon is on a whole different level. Originally, the city told the architect he could not build on this incredibly steep hillside, so he basically said “watch me” and designed a house shaped like a giant funnel.
How do you build on an “unbuildable” hill?
The secret to keeping the whole structure from sliding down the ravine is a bit of clever physics. It works like a giant teeter-totter, where the heavy living areas float out over the trees, balanced by a massive concrete slab anchored deep in the ground behind it.
Because of this shape, the layout is actually upside down. The smallest rooms sit at the bottom, and the house gets wider and wider as you climb higher, opening up to wide views of the Willamette River.
Six split levels of wood and stone
Instead of normal stories, the house is split into six different levels. This means you are never climbing more than half a flight of stairs at a time to get anywhere.
The entryway starts you off with beautiful local stone and warm cedar paneling that feels like it grows right out of the hill.
If you go down half a flight from the entry, you are in the kids’ bedroom area, which features some of the coolest built-in bunks you will ever see.
Go up half a flight instead, and you step into a massive, light-filled living room that completely opens up to the forest.
No parallel walls allowed
Notice anything unusual about the living room? There isn’t a single parallel wall in the entire space, and even the ceiling tilts.
This wasn’t just to look cool—it actually makes the room’s acoustics incredible for listening to music. The speakers are actually hidden in the cabinets and bounce sound off the curved ceiling so it spreads evenly.
A kitchen built for hanging out
The kitchen sits just off the living area, and it features a massive curved black granite countertop with a built-in circular wood table.
There’s even a built-in sofa bench under the windows so friends can lounge and chat while you’re cooking.
The primary bedroom suite
Keep climbing up, and you will find the primary bedroom suite. It starts with a cozy sitting room and a TV nook lined with custom wood cabinets.
A long built-in desk runs along the hallway, letting you get some work done with a view of the living room below.
Behind a set of sliding doors is the actual bedroom, which feels like a private treehouse.
The bathroom is just as impressive, featuring sleek black granite counters and a deep white tub positioned right next to a massive window looking into the trees.
Work from home, but make it a studio
At the very bottom of the funnel is the architect’s personal design studio. It has its own separate entrance, meaning you technically have to walk “to work” outside every day.
Bringing the outside in
The materials chosen for this house are almost entirely local to Oregon, from the cedar siding to the river stone.
The architect used a striking teal stucco for the exterior, which helps the house blend in with the surrounding sky and the river below.
Every level also has its own balcony or deck, so you can always step outside and look down at the river.
