Portland midcentury modern on 10 acres in Forest Park hits market for first time

For all the glass walls and other indoor-outdoor features associated with modern homes, it’s easy to forget that privacy is also key.

Take a look at a handsome Northwest Regional-style home that was built in 1962 in Portland’s Forest Park neighborhood when holly farms, fields and wooded trails blanketed the hills off Northwest Skyline Boulevard.

Visitors who arrive at the driveway first see a low-profile structure sealed with cedar siding stained soothing gray. Slightly sloping roofs extend to cover a simple porch in the front of the house.

But open double front doors painted a vintage dark blue, pass through the foyer and the space soars. Hemlock planks line the vaulted ceiling and towering windows frame mature trees and protected greenbelts.

Modern home design concepts of being open and linear are on display. Bricks, forming a clean H, contain a fireplace below the mantel and display space above.

The living room, with quintessential pieces such as Eames lounge chairs, looks straight out of a magazine that specializes in “Mad Men”-era architecture.

And yet the use of native wood and brick to achieve elegance define this home as Northwest Regional modern, a minimalism approach practiced, promoted and perfected by Portland architects Pietro Belluschi and John Yeon, starting in the late 1930s.

They and others progressed Frank Lloyd Wright's principles of building to blend with the environment, to live with nature, not from it, by avoiding unnecessary adornments.

On Oct. 3, the carefully preserved, midcentury modern, on 10.09 acres at 395 N.W. Brynwood Lane, was listed for sale for the first time. The asking price: $3.25 million.

Architect G.W. (Bill) Wood oriented the 3,850-square-foot dwelling to draw in the scenery. Western views are visible from its 96-foot-long side. Bedrooms at the far end have north- and east-revealing private decks that overlook an intimate Japanese-style garden and water feature.

Woodland gardens were designed by landscape architect Bill Eiland. Walking paths and a creek also have a backdrop of native maples and fir trees.

Natural-finished teak cabinetry was selected to complement ceramic quarry tile and oak floors, and solid-hemlock paneling.

Under the 20-foot-square living room is a heated workshop with a fireplace and no obstructing posts, making it possible to convert it into finished living spaces.

There are four fireplaces in the home as well as a Swedish RAIS wood stove in the master suite on the main level. Like the living room, the master bedroom has a vaulted hemlock ceiling supported by exposed wood beams and windows offering views in three directions.

In the 1990s, architect David Jenkins of Divo Design enhanced the house with more windows and decks plus skylights, gourmet kitchen features, ceiling-hung teak-and-glass display cabinets and a mudroom-butler’s pantry.

The custom house has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, say listing agents Callan Christman and Megan Talalemotu of John L. Scott.

“A family of two, or a family of many would love this home for its easy main floor living, and extra bedroom and bonus space below,” says Talalemotu. “The buyer in search of a true mid-mod, architectural masterpiece will love this home, especially if views and a private forested setting is appealing as well.”

The 10-acre property is zoned R-10 and could be subdivided, say the real estate agents, who state, “Buyer to perform own due diligence.”

The property’s rural-feeling location is about five miles from downtown Portland and the High Tech Corridor from U.S. 26.

--Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.