The Simpler Life
A Buckman couple proves that life in less square footage is both sustainable and stylish.
By Anna Sachse
The Harpoon House’s second floor serves as a bedroom, office, and indoor/outdoor den: a sleeping loft contains a double mattress and low desk, while sliding doors open up onto the middle eco-roof, lushly planted with sedum, licorice ferns, coastal strawberries, camas, and creeping thyme. A small patio on the roof, Bovee notes, was “made to fit a table, and nothing more.”
That matter-of-factness rather efficiently sums up the entire home’s design philosophy: build and buy exactly what you need, nothing more. “We’re surrounded by cafés, shops, services, and public outdoor space,” says Bovee. Far from seeing their Lilliputian domain as a retreat, they plan to continue inviting friends and neighbors into their home for events like their seventh annual summer ice cream social, featuring 20 homemade flavors. “There’s no need to have a mini eco-system that’s just for us,” Bovee says. “We want to engage with our community.”
Published: August 2010
Beautiful, creative house!
The house feels like part of the neighborhood, yet can serve as a personal retreat, too.
And I definitely agree with having a good sink for toothbrushing.
Congratulations Matt and Katherine!
Part of the hood? This thing is an abomination, likely why the writer declined to interview neighbors or community members in this historic neighborhood who get to stare at this thing every day.
This structure is not an abomination unless your mind is stuck thinking that a house must have a lots of wasted space, bad paint colors, and poor energy efficiency. Yes, I’ve seen this “historic” neighborhood for myself and the only thing worth looking at was the harpoon house. As this house ages it will begin to turn a silver gray and tone itself down, perhaps then it will more acceptable to the historic standards?
Hey everyone! Look at me! Looks like someone needed build an homage to his personal ego. What a narcissistic prick.
I think you proved my point exactly joshua. You clearly have no regard for the neighborhood. Take this box to Beaverton where it belongs.
We love this beautiful application of our FSC Certified Cedar Siding! Thanks to both the Buckmans and Portland Monthly for hi-lighting the value and aesthetic appeal of local, sustainable forest products! www.AltruWood.com
wow. neighborhood nazis…
I have lived in my home next door for 40 years and it doesn’t bother me a bit!
The Harpoon House is on the Build It Green! home tour on September 25th—right now you can buy a ticket to visit this and any of 19 other innovative houses and talk to the owners and contractors. The tour is a good way to see beyond the outside appearance, maybe you’ll find things to like if you visit and discuss. Here are profiles of the houses:
http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=50833&
What an inspiring project! It’s amazing to see all these innovative practices packing in to 700 SF. Congrats to the young homeowners for taking such a big leap, and encouraging that living comfortably & efficiently can be done in an affordable fashion.
This is awesome. I am going to contact this builder within the next couple of years. My husband and I are looking for something similar to this. Good job!
This house is amazing. I have always been into small modern living spaces, especially the houses ive seen in Tokyo, Japan. and this house reminds me a lot of that. i live just a few blocks down the road and i was riding my bicycle one day and looked up to this very sleek beautiful structure, could not believe my eyes. Learning of how much it cost for everything something like this, made me very excited, especially since its very close in SE Buckman neighborhood, where houses are very expensive!
this is how all cities in the US need to be… build up, and save room. the owner of this house is obviously is a very smart dood. thank you for building something worth looking at on my way to downtown.
I anticipate you accepted my point absolutely joshua. You acutely accept no attention for the neighborhood. Take this box to Beaverton area it belongs.
I guess a place like this is for people never planning to have kids. And if people really wanted eco friendly – new homes would be made of poured concrete….think about it.
I’ll take an eyesore of an innovative architecture over everpresent blue tarp all over our neighborhoods. This is a great house that offers so much for its residents in so little space. Good things do come in small packages. Exactly how I see my future home plus an extra bedroom. Well done.
Great idea! And attractive. I agree with the idiot that said move it to Beaverton!
Super elegant! I love the screened outdoor room. An abstract Alhambra.
Lew Oliver, Whole Town Solutions, Atlanta