Cloud House

The Cloud House, Cascade Head Ranch, Oregon. Design by G.Z. Brown.

The Cloud House, near Otis, Oregon, sits on a south-facing slope overlooking the Salmon River where the Coast Range meets the Pacific Ocean. It is an experiment, intended to demonstrate a way of designing that views the climate (mild and heating-dominated, with a potential annual rainfall of over 100 inches) as a resource and inspiration, rather than as an obstacle to overcome. Light and water are manipulated physically and symbolically to create a dwelling offering both prospect and refuge. Its form and site design derive from and respond to sensitive ecological conditions.