Manzanita, Oregon, USA
Located in a small community along the northern Pacific Coast, the Oregon Dune House strikes a balance between sensitivity to the local landscape and building traditions and the creation of a timeless and iconic form.
Situated on the edge of the town’s grid and one of the last remaining beach-front parcels, the house rests quietly between its neighbors and is shielded from the street by a small forecourt framed with native pines.
At the same time, it derives its form and expression from the undulating dunes, covered in oats, manzanita, and seagrass, that stretch between the last line of houses and the open tidal areas of the beach.
Oregon Dune House by Waechter Architecture, won an American Architecture Award 2025 from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.
With a low profile, and without any unnecessary adornment, the landscape appears to flow around and over the Dune House, leaving only a sheltered space (or “nest”) within, and a series of carefully framed apertures connecting the interior and exterior.
A simple box in plan, the exterior is clad in locally sourced weathering cedar shingles, one of the most prevalent building materials in the region, and one prescribed by the community’s rigorous design guidelines.
This more rugged exterior is paired with a restrained interior palette of white oak flooring and paneling, with minimal trim, giving the building a calm, carved, and monolithic presence.
The organizational concept centers around an open central volume lit from a small, sculptural skylight and framed by four enclosed figures, which contain two private bedroom suites, storage, services, and support spaces.
The skylight also has an operable window that increases airflow and natural ventilation.
A recessed entrance and private outdoor sitting area provide sheltered spaces that serve as a functional and experiential transition from the coastal landscape and climate, which can be marked by long periods of rain and persistent winds.
Every aspect of the house serves its principal function as a retreat and refuge from the stresses and distractions of the day-to-day careers of two creative professionals. For the owners, the Dune House is a space of reconnection with the elements and the rituals of living.
On one side of the interior court is a kitchen and dining alcove with flush cabinetry, door panels, and a freestanding work surface finished in dark granite.
On the opposite side, facing westward is a sitting area with a frameless window stretching to the edges of the space. The effect is one of extension and immediate connection with the dunes, views of Neahkahnie Mountain to the north, and the ocean beyond.
By contrast, the bedroom, dressing, and bathroom suites are compact, efficient, and free of unnecessary furnishings, increasing the sense of simplicity and shelter, and providing an ideal space for rest and contemplation.
Project: Oregon Dune House
Architects: Waechter Architecture
Design Team: Ben Waechter and Lisa Kuhnhausen
General Contractor: Green Gables Design and Restoration Inc.
Client: Private
Photographers: Pablo Enriquez
