The Campbell Residence

As one of only a few known homes designed by the noted Portland architect Richard A. Campbell, the Campbell Residence was designed as his personal retreat. It was later carefully renovated by local architect Paul McKean of Paul McKean Architecture. The residence is a unique and storied home and a stunning example of Northwest Regional Modernism. It is now being offered on the market for the second time since being built in 1965. Also known today as the Cain-Wong Residence, the home is nestled into a quiet hillside in Southwest Portland and is surrounded by towering trees and forested grounds. Here is a little history on the architects, their work and what the home has to offer.

Richard Campbell earned his undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Oregon in 1956 and a master’s from Yale in 1961. He returned to Portland and began working as a designer with Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill. In 1964, Campbell partnered with Joachim Grube and William Roger Yost to found Campbell, Yost, & Grube Architecture, headquartered in Portland and now known as YGH Architecture.

A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Campbell was a decorated architect having received the Ian Lewis Traveling Fellowship in 1959, and nine design awards from the AIA. Campbell was primarily known for his commercial buildings and unique fusion of wood and open space, which created a quintessential Pacific Northwest Modern aesthetic. He remained active with Campbell, Yost, & Grube Architecture until his death in 1985.

THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE

One of the Pacific Northwest’s most creative open-concept homes, the Campbell Residence features unique concrete piers, vaulted cedar ceilings, Douglas fir beams and a modern chalet aesthetic that offers open forest views and truly blurs the line between indoor and outdoor living.

It was designed by Campbell as his primary residence and as a means to enjoy the informality of mountain living while working daily in the city. According to Campbell, the main floor was designed for the living and the lower level for the sleeping. Completed in 1966, the structure is a fusion of a carefully crafted, Japanese influenced, beam-and-purlin, fir & cedar vaulted roof system, an elegant exposed concrete pier structural system which protrudes both in-and-outside the building, generous custom milled windows and custom built-in furniture throughout. Situated on .65 acres of tranquil wooded hillside, this stunning 2,505 square foot home features a unique open concept plan with full floor great room, extended overhangs, covered decks, tongue and groove cedar ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, red oak floors, trimless Douglas fir doors and the list continues.

A wood-ensconced forest retreat that seemingly floats among the trees, the two-story, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home was named AIA – Sunset Magazine’s “Home of the Year ”in 1967, and won Campbell the AIA Portland Chapter Award of Merit in 1966, and that’s just the beginning.

THE 1979 ADDITION

In 1979 a roof structure was designed to cover the large deck by local architect Gary Michael to mimic the roof line on the home. He also added a primary suite edition down below the now covered deck, an area that was previously an open unfinished area. The work on the primary suite has since been fully updated.

THE PAUL MCKEAN RENOVATION

Forty-plus years after the construction of the Campbell residence Paul McKean of Paul McKean Architecture was selected to perform key renovations to the main and lower levels, while also protecting Campbell’s original design intent and materials.

McKean has worked as an architect in Oregon since 1995, and was a recipient of an Architecture Foundation of Oregon’s Van Evera Bailey Fellowship and his firm has been involved with renovations of several notable Northwest Regional homes including works by Saul Zaik, John Storrs, Wade Pipes and Richard Campbell. His work on the Campbell Residence has been featured in dwell and was recently showcased during Restore Oregon’s Mid-Century Modern 10 Year Anniversary Celebration, including a lecture and tour of the home.

The careful renovation was completed in two phases and included all the upgrades and improvements needed and desired for comfortable modern living. The first phase construction was done by Vic Cain Construction – 2011 – 2013. The work included adding custom copper gutters and downspouts all around. A custom powder coated steel and fir deck railing system to surround the two floating Ipe decks and other serviceable areas of the home, and on the inside, a completely new custom steel fireplace enclosure – all crafted by the talented folks at Formed Objects. A custom up-and-down EPL lighting trackhead system was added to illuminate and enhance the main floor ambiance. The kitchen was fully renovated with quartz countertops, 14 gauge stainless steel backsplash and new cabinets with detailing designed to match the original millwork. Two under counter KitchenAid refrigerators were added along with a new dishwasher, induction cooktop and electric oven.

The second phase renovation was completed by Sean Harding Construction – 2018 – 2019, was mostly on the lower level. The primary suite was fully renovated to include Ann Sacks and Royal Mosa tile, a freestanding circular tub, custom vanity, shower enclosure with heated floor, wall mounted toilet, custom sliding bathroom door with cantilevered hidden track and an oversized lift / slide high performance door to the patio.

The original powder room and 2nd bathroom were combined to create a generous single bathroom with a floating custom double vanity and medicine cabinet, shower enclosure and heated tile floors. Legrand switches and outlets were added throughout the home and smart thermostats were added to power the dual zone heating system.

And most recently most of the original built-in furniture has been carefully hand restored by the talented craftspeople at The Good Mod mid-century furniture house of Portland.

Such a storybook of a home; what’s not to love? On the market for only the second time since designed, this is a rare opportunity to own a significant and iconic work of architecture – that you will not only appreciate, but feel the moment you arrive, and enjoy for years to come. Cozy and warm by the fireside with a cup of tea on the rainiest of days and cool in the patio shade on the warmest, chillin’ with friends over happy hour. The mountain retreat and escape to serenity you’ve been dreaming of is right in front of you, here in the city and available now. Seize the moment!