Fox House
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Fox House

Three forms set in the high desert, echoing the mountains on the horizon.
Perched on a promontory above sagebrush meadows, facing the Cascades that dominate the western horizon, this house was designed for a family seeking both extreme durability and near net-zero energy performance. The concept was born from a gift: Italian architect Maria Chiara Trevisan, a childhood friend of the family, sketched three rectangular volumes set at angles across the site as a birthday present for the owners. This idea evolved into three shell-like masses clad in slate, a subtle echo of the peaks of the Three Sisters that dominate the view. Glazed corridors separate the three volumes, organising the house into distinct zones: public, private, and work. A 12 kW photovoltaic array, geothermal heat pumps, a highly insulated envelope of ICF walls and SIP roof panels, together with careful consideration of natural lighting and solar shading, bring the house closer to net-zero performance, while black polished concrete floors with radiant heating and a custom steel fireplace keep it warm during the winter months.
Type : Residential, International
Surface : ~475 m²

Year : 2009

Location : Oregon, USA
Project team : Peter Jahnke, Eric Meglasson
Photos : Alan Brandt

Designed for the high desert

A 12 kW photovoltaic array, geothermal heat pumps, and a highly insulated envelope of ICF walls and SIP panels bring the house closer to net-zero performance. Black polished concrete floors with radiant heating and a custom steel fireplace keep it warm in winter, while natural lighting and solar shading temper the desert climate.

Three Sisters, three forms

Born from a birthday gift, three angled volumes sketched by architect and childhood friend Maria Chiara Trevisan, the project evolved into three shell-like masses clad in slate, a subtle echo of the Three Sisters peaks that dominate the view.

 

Glass between the volumes

Glazed corridors separate the three volumes into distinct zones: public, private, and work, while the exterior materials, chosen for their fire resistance and durability, give the house a discreet robustness. The only wood present is a series of cedar slats at the entrance, integrated to meet the review committee’s requirements for exterior materials.

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