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Meadow House 



A “Meadow Within a Meadow”—The house reads as a single mass that has been carved and sculpted to create the covered terraces, courtyard, and primary living spaces.





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The Meadow House is a 2,000 square-foot private residence in the College Hill district of Eugene, a few miles Southwest of the University of Oregon. The house takes its name from Madison Meadow, a landscape preserve and community park which lies at the heart of a neighborhood of modest single-family homes. The family sought to create a residence adjacent to the meadow while honoring its character and value as a resource for the entire community. 

A “Meadow Within a Meadow”—From above, the house reads as a series of frames: the perimeter of the residential block, the outer boundary of the meadow, the simple rectilinear form of the house tucked into its northeast corner, and within, a central clearing that recalls the original preserve. This courtyard retains the same natural character and vegetation as the surrounding landscape and organizes the diverse functions and living spaces within the residence. The single-level massing of the house is broken into four pavilions. A freestanding garage and workshop volume anchors the northwest corner, and a kitchen volume is located to the northeast along the street. To the south, a bedroom suite and master suite are sited between the courtyard and the open meadow. Four terraces, two open and two enclosed in glass window walls, hold the primary living areas of the house and offer an all-season connection to the landscape.
 
Elemental Form and Construction—The walls of the pavilions, the sloped roof, and the deep-set soffits of the Meadow House are entirely clad in ‘bonderized’ steel, which will weather naturally without the need for additional finishes. The house reads as a single mass that has been carved and sculpted to create the terraces, courtyard, and primary living spaces. This approach also reduces the need for additional materials or future maintenance. Its strong resistance to corrosion and water damage also allows the inward-sloping roofs to shed rainwater directly into the central garden. Overall, every design decision and material selection was made with an eye for economy, durability, and conservation. 

Vitality and Connection—The simple forms and palette of the house allow the wild vitality of the meadow and the change of seasons to define the primary experience of place. Just as pathways and places of repose have found a home in the Meadow, the house seeks that same sense of connection, not as an imitation, but as a mediator that can heighten awareness and reverence for all that it offers. Belonging both to the network of neighborhood streets and houses and equally to the meadow itself, it is hoped that the house will be a place that will help to build a stronger community and stewardship of this uncommon treasure and irreplaceable resource.




Project details

Location
Eugene, Oregon


Type
Houses


Size
2,600 sf


Photographer
Lara Swimmer


Status
Completed 2022


Awards
2024 AIA Oregon Awards; Citation Award
2024 Residential Design Awards; Custom Urban House; Honor Award
2022 AIA Northwest & Pacific Design Awards; Merit Award


Press

2026 Oregon’s Magazine 1859

2023 Residential Design
2023 Wallpaper Magazine
2023 Label Magazine
2023 Dezeen
2023 Archdaily



A covered terrace opens onto Meadow House’s courtyard, with a person walking a dog beside the glazed living spaces.

Aerial view of Meadow House set beside Madison Meadow.

From above, the house reads as a series of frames: the perimeter of the residential block, the outer boundary of the meadow, the simple rectilinear form of the house tucked into its northeast corner, and within, a central clearing that recalls the original preserve.

View beneath the home’s inward-sloping roof toward the courtyard.

Interior living space opens toward the courtyard through full-height glazing.
Architectural drawing showing the home’s arrangement around its central courtyard.

The house reads as a single mass that has been carved and sculpted to create the covered terraces, courtyard, and primary living spaces. This approach also dramatically reduces the need for additional materials or future maintenance.

View across the planted courtyard, where a resident walks a dog between the glazed pavilions.
White-tiled bathroom with a long vanity, bathtub, and black-framed windows.
Kitchen with wood cabinetry, a central work area, and a window overlooking the garden.
Architectural model showing Meadow House’s roof and courtyard opening.
Architectural drawing of Meadow House’s pavilion layout and relationship to the courtyard.
Line elevation drawing of Meadow House’s long facade, showing two windows and the recessed garage entry.
Daytime street view of Meadow House’s steel-clad facade, recessed entry, garage, and meadow planting.
Aerial view of Meadow House beside Madison Meadow, with Eugene’s tree-lined neighborhood and distant hills beyond.
Covered walkway looking toward Meadow House’s glazed living spaces as a resident walks a dog beside the courtyard.
Twilight view of Meadow House’s dark steel-clad facade, with the recessed entry and garage illuminated.