MCM DESIGN

Portland River House Renovation 2

2011-12-01T09:29:00.001-08:00

The interior of this riverfront home in Portland was designed to display the client's eclectic art collection that included brightly colored paintings and prints. Neutral wall colors with rich wood cabinetry and a bronze fireplace chimney compliment the dramatic artwork. Fortunately the house faces north providing abundant north light for viewing the collection. Interior design was done by Rose Capestany of RCI Interiors, Seattle, Washington.

Hawaii House 2

2011-11-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

Plan © 2010 MCM Architects ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Designed to sit on a steep hillside overlooking the ocean, this home has large open terraces looking out to the ocean view on one side and a rich shaded water garden environment on the opposite that is protected from the wind. Each room is a separate building linked by covered walkways that travel along an inner waterway that has a lush rock garden backdrop. Two Bali's sit in the waterway as places to get away to read or nap in the cool shade. The linear plan is organized with the living room in the center and rooms for the owner on one side, and areas for guests on the other. Downstairs on the owner's side (not shown) is a personal gym and wine storage/tasting grotto, downstairs on the guest side are additional guest rooms.

The roofs are designed to be a large umbrella over the home. A continuous row of horizontal windows and/or louvers elevate the roof off the walls, emphasizing the open air quality of the house, as well as providing natural ventilation. The structure is post and beam with modular wood paneling infill. Ceilings have bamboo matting inset between rafters. Local lava rock is used as a base to the building as well as for freestanding walls that block the view into the house from uphill neighbors.

Casa di Sogni D'oro

2011-10-05T13:57:00.001-07:00

Main Floor Plan © 2011 MCM Architects All Rights Reserved

Upper Level Floor Plan © 2011 MCM Architects All Rights Reserved

Clients sometimes ask for a Mediterranean style house in the Islands, as the client did for the above design. This style is actually well suited for an Island environment. The white stucco walls, the tile floors, the tile roofs, the courtyards and the loggias often seen in Mediterranean buildings are also very sensible to use in the Caribbean. Tile floors can survive the torrential downpours than can flood indoors and out. The concrete walls resist bug infestation. The white walls reflect heat and the non combustible tile roofs are a plus in areas with limited fire departments. The architectural elements of courtyards and colonnaded loggias adapt well to open plans preferred in tropical living.

The design above uses a formal linear axis around which to organize the plan. The entry sequence to the house has been laid out so that as you approach and enter the house your view is always focused out to the turquoise sea. You get glimpses through to water as you enter first the courtyard and then the rotunda, with the full dramatic impact of the oceanfront setting unveiled as you step out onto the open loggia which also overlooks the pool. A cross axis provides access to other parts of the house with the upstairs as the private domain of the owners with roof deck complete with sun beds and spa. Two guest houses separate from the main house provide privacy for owner and guest alike.

Island House Plan 8

2011-10-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

Main Level Plan

Upper Level Plan

The wrap around veranda has often been used in tropical climates because it captures and channels the wind into the building, as well as shelter open doors and windows from the driving rain. This design is a very simple layout with all rooms having doors on two sides to facilitate natural cooling. The downstairs has public spaces while the upstairs is for the family, with three bedrooms and private sitting areas. Two independent guest suites connected to the downstairs veranda provide very private guest accommodations. The open column, rail and fretwork of the exterior can be filled in with rolling shades or folding louver panels depending on the wind orientation and sun exposure.

This is a very open house where the symmetry and uncomplicated plan layout create a very relaxing and casual indoor outdoor environment for Island living.

Villa Cielo

2011-09-29T15:28:00.001-07:00

This Island villa design is a tower surrounded by a wide wrap around covered terrace. The tower has basically one room or function per floor. This allows each room to have three view exposures and to facilitate natural flow through ventilation for cooling. Two separate out buildings flank either side; one a staff, laundry and storage building, another a guest suite with it's own entry so it can be used independently. The major living areas for this house are outside under cover. An indoor kitchen with dining area area is available for retreat during stormy weather, as is a library media room on the second floor that can also function as a guest bedroom.

While the building will be very formal and dramatic when approached on the entry side, once inside the spaces will be very relaxed and casual, gradually opening up to the sea and sky.

Creating Neighborhood, Russellville Commons

2011-09-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

©MCM Architects 2011 All Rights Reserved

Creating a neighborhood oriented around a linear series of park blocks was our design goal in for the Russellville Commons project in Portland, Oregon. The project has about 500 units on a 12 acre site. What is unique about this design is that rather than designing a typical apartment project surrounded by and accessed from a series of large parking lots, we actually introduced a public street grid, with on street parking, onto the super block site, organizing the streets around central park blocks. This not only connected the project with the surrounding neighborhood it provided organization and structure to an apartment project that had over 25 separate buildings. Parking lots were placed behind the buildings and connected by landscaped pedestrian walkways to the main park blocks and new streets. The building and unit entries orient to either the new streets or to the park blocks, which in turn connect to Portland's light rail system.

The public spaces and streets are shared by a diverse cross section of people because the project includes regular rental apartments, senior living apartments and assisted living units. So rather be isolated in buildings surrounded by parking lots, the residents of Russellville Commons, of all ages, participate in creating a true neighborhood.

Contemporary House Plan 4 Renderings

2011-08-02T16:29:00.000-07:00

Street View of Contemporary House 4

Back View of Covered Verandah with outdoor Kitchen to the left.

Main Living area as seen from the Kitchen looking out into private Walled Garden.

Main Living Area looking back to Kitchen and up stairs to Loft.

Main Living Area with Loft above.

Street View of Home with Master Suite Terrace above.

Loft area looking out to Terrace.

Loft looking back into sleeping area and Bath.

Master Bedroom with closets behind and cabinet storage wall as headboard.

Master Bedroom Terrace with outdoor tub with surrounding screen.

View of home from private Walled Garden.

See Plans on following post.
©MCMArchitects 2011 All Rights Reserved

Contemporary House Plan 4

2011-08-02T15:44:00.001-07:00

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

This 1,450 sf plan is for an urban townhome that would fit comfortably on a 50' X 80' lot. The main Living area is a two story high space that flows out into a walled garden with a covered verandah creating an indoor outdoor living environment. The Master Suite is on the second floor and features an outdoor tub on a private screened terrace. The Master opens onto a Loft space that overlooks the main first floor living area and the walled garden beyond. This second level is a private reserve for the owner with wide double pocket doors that allow the space to merge as one, or to be able to divide for sleeping privacy.

The "L" shaped garage offers a range of of options for use. One standard size car and one compact car can be parked inside; or one standard size car and a collection of sports equipment such as canoes or kayaks, or storage for one car with a work or studio area. The "L" shape also allows the flexibility of closing in one wing and expanding the Guest Bedroom into a larger room that could also be a home office that can be accessed from the street.

The efficiency, simplicity and flexibility of this plan make it ideal for a retired couple or single person. A small house that feels very large with ample light and contemporary style.

Downtown Portland Sketches

2011-07-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

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Robert Moreland did this series of sketches of downtown Portland, Oregon, in 1995. Each sketch was taken from the view of a pedestrian walking the streets and are meant to capture the unique scale, style and experience of downtown Portland -- showing what makes it such a desirable urban environment.

Condominium Window and Stucco Remediation

2011-06-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Kings Square is a four story condominium project built in the early 1980's. It has been through two previous remediation upgrades involving window and stucco degradation issues. After all of this, they started to notice more issues starting around 2005. As a result starting in 2006, the homeowner's association had a series of forensic investigations done to identify why the were seeing more problems. In 2009 we were commissioned to develop a new remediation design based on what that study found.

What was found was that during the two previous remediation projects an impermeable membrane, or cold side vapor barrier, had been installed over the exterior plywood sheathing along with a stucco coating with an elastomeric coating and sealing of all the stucco joints. As a result, whenever water got into the stucco, either through failing windows, bad flashing details, or pinholes in the stucco finish they would see a bubbling in the stucco finish since the water had no place to escape. Our approach to the project was to see if the impermeable membrane could be kept since it would be very expensive to replace and require removing the existing building sheathing.

At the start of the project we conducted an investigation of the impermeable membrane with a series of test holes to see if there were any signs of moisture damage on the interior face of the sheathing. Luckily we did not find any, so we developed a design that called for keeping the impermeable membrane after drilling holes in it along with the installation of a new rain screen stucco system in combination with a rain screen fiber cement siding system. A prefinished metal cornice was added to portions of the building to articulate the plain and boxy original design. Also since the existing metal clad wood windows were failing, they were replaced with fiberglass windows along with adding a new waterproofing system, tile, and guardrail to the unit terraces. The building's dark and dated main entry was redesigned with a lightweight steel framework topped with glass skylights for an airy feel. The interior atrium was upgraded creating a more sophisticated atmosphere in keeping with the value of the units.

The project started in June of 2010 and was completed in March 2011 and within the homeowners association's budget.

Senior Living Plans

2011-06-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Designing an affordable small unit plan for senior living is a challenge. Many seniors are downsizing from a single family home and many of the pieces of furniture they wish to bring with them are scaled for houses and not small apartments. When a large hutch, dining table or favorite easy chair is placed in a small apartment the result is a home that feels crowded and cramped, making the transition even harder on the individual.

This concept for a 600 sf One Bedroom modular apartment borrows a trick from the RV industry -- the slide out. The common party wall between units does not run straight but is offset adding 18" to the width on one or the other side of the unit, just as a slide out in an RV makes a narrow space more livable. When this additional width is in the living area it allows for a larger couch, when in the kitchen area it allows for a larger dining table. The variety of configurations possible in this common module provides greater choice for the tenant. In unit A3 the kitchen is on the inside next to the corridor as is traditional in most apartments, allowing a larger living area. On Unit A2 the kitchen is placed on the outside wall and has the added width. This allows a larger table to be used and provides a bright well lit working, cooking and entertaining area. Where as the living section is on the interior side for a dimmer environment better for watching TV, etc.

There are no wasteful hallways in this unit. The bedrooms open onto the main living areas with double sliding doors. In this way a person who may be bed ridden for a period of time still feels part of the home and not confined to a small bedroom. It also visually expands the width of the unit making it feel much larger than it's 600 sf would suggest.

Storage is accumulated in two large closets with large sliding doors to make everything easily accessible and to allow for a variety of closet storage components to be placed inside for more efficient storage. The "L" shaped kitchens can have a built in dining bar freeing up more floor space, or incorporate open shelving for displaying the many small treasure collected over a lifetime.

This unit concept was incorporated into the design of the Russellville Park Senior Living project we designed in Portland, Oregon.

Oregon Mountain Home 2

2011-05-13T13:43:00.001-07:00

This home is located on a golf course in the high desert of Central Oregon. The lot was a peninsula surrounded by golf course which allowed open views on three sides without any conflict of privacy with neighbors. The plan is a series of five wings rotated around a central stair and entry hall. One wing is the Living - Dining Room, another the Kitchen - Family, another the Guest Bedrooms and another the Master Suite. The wing configuration allows each room to have windows on three sides taking maximum advantage of views and providing abundant light in each space. Entry to the house is off a large auto court bounded on three sides by the house. The owners were able to use the large three car garage together with the cobblestone paved auto court as a venue for large fund raising events.

The house has a base of local stone with layers of shingle and wood siding to reinforce the strong horizontal lines of the building. Tall spaces and high windows allow view of the towering pines and the mountains in the distance. The deep eaves with layered fascias visually reinforce that the roofs can support the load of winter snows. This is a house that sits comfortably on the site and quietly blends into the native landscape.

Canstruction Portland

2011-04-27T09:36:00.001-07:00

MCM partnered for this years Canstruction food drive with Emerick Construction and Degenenkolb Engineers of Portland -- to "Putting the Screws on Hunger". This is an annual event to benefit the Oregon Food Bank and our sculpture this year was made out of 5,000 tuna cans with a base of noodles, cream of mushroom soup, and canned peas. Everything to make a tuna noodle casserole and all to be donated to the food bank.

Island House Plan 2

2011-04-05T13:22:00.001-07:00

Island Plan 2 draws design inspiration from Japanese architecture, combined with our Island concept of each room being a building of its own for maximum privacy and to facilitate natural ventilation. Wide six foot roof overhangs create covered connections between buildings as well as providing shade and wind protection to the open rooms within. The design orients around an entry courtyard, a central Great Room and a Kitchen Dining pavilion. The Great Room has large sliding glass doors on four sides allowing it to be opened up as an outdoor Lanai, while also allowing wind control by closing sides toward windward for greater comfort. The buildings are laid out so there are through vistas allowing glimpses of water views, no matter where you area.

Each Guest Suite has a terrace overlooking the water and each bath has sliding doors that open the bath onto private walled garden courtyards. The outdoor spaces between buildings are each developed with unique landscape and water features for a variety of garden environments within the house. The naturally shaped infinity pool has terraces and wood decks cascading down to the pool's edge with both sunny areas and shady spots to enjoy the view. Using wood decks as the lowest terrace allows the house to perch lightly over the rocks and natural landscape when viewed from the water. From the entry, or street side, the house appears low and unassuming, and it is not until you walk through a portico do you see the buildings set in gardens with the sea beyond. Only when a guest is seated in the Great Room does the whole house and it's site present itself through the large windows and doors on four sides. This is a very Japanese concept of unfolding the view of a house, culminating when a guest is comfortably seated and can appreciate the full setting and hospitality of the host.

Allamanda Villa, Jumby Bay

2011-03-22T08:45:00.001-07:00

Allamanda is a unit within a cluster of four attached villas we designed in the late 80's at Jumby Bay in Antigua. It was one of the first real estate developments on this private Island and is an example of a design that has withstood the test of time and was able to evolve as the Island turned into something more than was ever imagined at the time.

This end unit (on the right in above aerial) was designed as a 1,900 sf three bedroom two bath attached villa. Today it is a 3,100 sf four bedroom four bath villa. These first villas built at Jumby Bay were designed as a tightly clustered complex in order to have the least impact on the Island environment and landscape, basically an Island on an Island. Each villa was a collection of three to four simple rectilinear buildings connected by courtyards and covered terraces. This allowed all rooms to have flow through ventilation because at that time power generation was limited on the Island and air-conditioning was not an option. We used building materials commonly used in the Caribbean at that time, such as concrete block, stucco, terra cotta floor tiles and roof tiles, and bug resistant tropical hardwoods. This created a Mediterranean style of architecture, though we did not specifically set out to design within that theme, it was a result of the most appropriate materials to use. We also relied on the stark contrast between the white stucco, terra cotta and dark tropical woods to compensate for the lack of sophisticated architectural detail that was not possible with the skill level of local contractors in those early years.

This clustered structure of simple rooms and long lasting materials appropriate for the environment has allowed this villa to be added to as the scale and value of villas on Jumby Bay increased dramatically over the following years. We added more outdoor covered terraces, gave each bedroom a bathroom, added a rock splash pool, a roof deck with hanging bed, and just recently a private study for the Grand Master Suite with a private Zen garden. Part of the success of this project has been it's location with it's own private beach (shown above), but the basic plan allowed it to evolve over the years, not just with added space, but with enhanced character and style that enriched that indoor-outdoor living experience that is the essence of life in the Islands.

Allamanda is available to rent through Jumby Bay, a Rosewood Resort.

Modern House Plan 1

2011-03-07T09:56:00.000-08:00

This house is a 3,251 SF three bedroom home designed around a series of open and flexible wings. The house is divided in half with one private side for family and one side for family and friends. The different wings can be closed off from each other to maintain different comfort zones to save energy. There are essentially no corridors. Each space opens onto another space so no space is wasted. Space that normally would have been circulation, or halls, is integrated into the rooms. Not only does it make the rooms feel much larger it also allows the space to evolve over the years. It is easier to reconfigure, refurnish or remodel large open spaces than try to remodel a lot of small rooms.

An attached two car garage is connected to a large projects room that has a pantry and a back mud entry for the house. This room can be used for laundry or other projects, with expansive counter surface for flower arranging, wrapping gifts or folding laundry. The Kitchen, Family and Entertaining spaces open onto a large terrace, partly covered, with outdoor grill and fire pit. The bedroom wing centers around a a study-library-computer room gathering space for the family. The Master Bedroom has a private courtyard that could have a hot tub as quiet retreat for the parents. A storage hallway with closets and room to hang things on the wall connects to an independent Garage which can double as an indoor playroom for kids in the winter.

Modern House Plan 1 Exterior Views

2011-03-07T09:53:00.001-08:00

Broad roof overhangs and horizontal layering of siding materials, with stone at the base, create a home that evokes the modern homes of the 1950's. The three foot roof overhangs help shade the large window areas in the summer. The angled wings create a welcoming embrace when approached from the street side.

Modern House Plan 1 Interior Views

2011-03-07T09:44:00.000-08:00

Combining the Entry and Living Room creates a large 19'x31' entertaining space. There is no choke point of a small hall or foyer at the front door, which can be awkward when many people are arriving or leaving at the same time. The Kitchen/Family space creates a room that is 50' long in house of only 3,500 sf. and is wrapped on two sides with windows to bring in light and capture panoramic views if available on the site.

Collaborative Work Spaces

2011-02-21T13:10:00.001-08:00

Today's work environment requires spaces for employees to interact or to take a break from ever more dense and tight cubical layouts. A 478,000 sf building we have renovated over the years for a variety of corporate tenants is now going through another evolution as a multi-tenant building. You can see some of those early designs here. One of the unique design features of the building is a 400' long two story glass roofed atrium. Initially it had built-in planters that brought greenery into the center of a manufacturing facility. We are now proposing to use this space to create a series of collaborative work environments to be shared by tenants. The design ideas are shown in the boards below and include:

• Built-in banquets that can be used for impromptu meetings in a private setting.
• Large table desks for touch down desking while waiting for a meeting or visitors.
• A collection of sculptural furniture to encourage impromptu exchanges between employees as they circulate about the building.
• Reconfigurable collection of soft ottomans that can be arranged into a myriad of configurations for meetings or creative events.
• Cafe seating that allows one on one meetings away from the work environment.
• Large gathering spaces for groups that will not need to be provided for in the tenant's leased space.

By providing these kind of gathering spaces in the building's common areas tenants can concentrate on providing the most efficient work spaces within their leased areas. This shows how "Big Boxes" can be reused to provide very creative and flexible office environments.

The design effort also includes a wayfinding system to direct people through this large building. Existing sign pylons will be reused with new graphics that try to clearly show with simple diagrammatic plans where a person is within the space.

More Guest Views of Jumby Bay

2011-02-03T15:53:00.000-08:00

Guests sometimes take the most interesting photos of resorts during their stay. These are a series of Jumby Bay Resort building exteriors taken by guests that illustrate some of the design concepts we used.

This shot above shows how the new rooms (on the right) are set way back from the beach on a slight rise and backed up against the native vegetation so they do not dominate the landscape. For many years different hotel consultants pressured the owner to line the rooms right at the edge of the beach, because this is the way it has always been done and is what guests want. The result is that you have rooms looking down on you as you lay on the beach and from the rooms you have people right at the doorstep who are using the beach. At Jumby Bay we use the large lawns as a foreground to your view of the water and to also assure your privacy as you sit on your terrace.

The buildings as seen from the waterfront side are designed so that you can't really distinguish each individual room. Staggered roofs and a variation of building masses create a comfortable collection of buildings that read more residential than commercial hotel.

From the entry side layering of tiled roofs with deep overhangs are the main architectural characteristic of the buildings. The "architecture of roofs", which is very common in tropical climates. The buildings are softened both with gently curving courtyard walls and the use of soft colors to contrast with the intense landscape. Eventually the lush landscape will hide the building walls and all you will see are roofs.

The courtyard walls not only give the rooms privacy from the entry side, they also break the force of the trade winds so that guests can leave their doors open to naturally cool the room. There are no cars on the private island so bike parking is provided at each entry gate.

The entry to each room is through an exterior courtyard with large mahogany gates. The entry sequence is designed as a series of passages that allow a guest to relax as they approach their room.

This is the front door to their room which allows a view all the way through to the sea beyond. Again, because this door is on a courtyard they can leave it open for natural through ventilation and not have to rely on air-conditioning - which requires them to sit in a closed room rather than enjoy the beautiful outdoor Island environment.

Rosewood Estate Suite, Jumby Bay

2011-01-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

We sometimes search the web for photos that guests have taken while at the resort we designed in Antigua, Jumby Bay. It is interesting to see what guests felt was important enough to take a picture of and share it on the web, especially when it is the architectural or site design that caught their eye or made an impression on them. Luckily one blog we came across, Super Yacht Blogger, the blogger also was a talented photographer - Frances Howorth - who captured much of the design spirit of Estate Suite in her following shots of the room during their stay.

This view of the suite terrace above shows the primary site design concept for Jumby Bay. When relaxing on your terrace there is nothing between you and the sea, no slot views between other buildings, no walkways running in front, nothing to disturb your privacy and enjoyment of the setting. The buildings are run in a gentle arc so that each room is looking out to the view and not at each other. Here is a link to the site plan.

Each room in the suite is designed as a simple proportional space with very high ceilings. No odd angles or architectural complexities. A clear simple space makes for a much more relaxing environment. Most hotel rooms have windows only at the end of the room, we call it tunnel vision. At Jumby Bay there are windows on two or more sides to make the rooms very light and airy as well as focus on the most important quality of Jumby Bay which is it's stunning Island setting. The clerestory windows allow views up as well as out. The Caribbean sky and the blowing palms are all part of the Island experience. The plan for the Estate Suite can be seen here.

The bedroom is a smaller more intimate space with lower ceiling off of the living room.

The bathrooms at Jumby Bay are large and again simple, opening onto private courtyards. The focus is on the vanity which is treated as a piece of furniture. The rooms are air conditioned, however, swinging the double doors open brings the outdoors in and allows the bath to be naturally cooled by tropical breezes.

The outdoor bath has become part of Jumby Bay Style that has evolved over the years. In the early 80's when we started working on Jumby Bay (at that time know as Long Island Resort) most Caribbean hotels had shower curtains which grew mold in the hot moist climate and had a tendency to be blown against your skin by the wind. The first rooms we designed for the island did tiled shower rooms to get rid of the dreaded vinyl curtains. For the next larger rooms we designed for the resort we added a garden courtyard outside the shower, because the private Island infrastructure at that time could not support air conditioning and we needed to be able to open louvered doors to keep the rooms cooled with cross ventilation. The next step was to move the shower and tub outside into a larger courtyard making an outside room, which is shown above. The courtyard walls not only provide privacy, they also break the force of the trade winds so the space is comfortable. The rooms still provide an indoor shower (sans curtain) for those not adventurous enough to venture outside for their shower, but most people find the experience enjoyable, even in the rain.

Oregon Mountain Home

2011-01-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

Photos by Rich Stroude

This large home is designed around a central lodge with extended building wings that have family bedrooms, garages and an attached guest house. The long stepped linear form allows this home to sit naturally at the edge of a mountain meadow. Separating the four garages into opposing wings on either side of a large stone entry porch reduces the impact of the garages on the street elevation of the home. The large roofs are broken down with gable and eyebrow dormers that also shade the large window areas. The mass of the building was further broken down with layers of local stone,wood shingles and wood siding -- with the stone at the bottom creating a foundation for the house to sit in the landscape or winter snow. Deep wood trim made up of layers of individual wood members on the eaves and gables makes the roof look visually substantial enough to bear the heavy snow load. Both the stone and shingle siding flare out at the bottom to further express the substantial character of the house and is inspired by some of the distinctive Cascade Mountain lodges built as WPA projects during the depression.

Contemporary House Plan 3

2010-12-23T15:34:00.000-08:00

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

Third Floor Plan

Contemporary House 3 is a 25'x105' "Linear Home". It is a 2900 sf plan with a master suite, second bedroom suite, and a third floor get away that can be a study or a third bedroom. The linear plan layout results in a long facade toward the street that creates the image of a substantially larger home. On the inside the linear open plan reinforces the perception of a large home despite it's modest square footage. The first level is laid out for entertaining with a large central entry hall for greeting guests who can then easily circulate to the living room or large kitchen dining area. A covered verandah off the living room expands the entertaining area as an outdoor room complete with fireplace. The visual connection of the in line spaces encourages circulation between gathering and sitting areas. The large kitchen area can accommodate a table for 10 to 14 or can be arranged with four smaller independent tables seating four each.

A covered carport provides direct protected access into the house for rainy days and can be used as a carport. The garage can be made into a home office or shop if not needed for car storage. The master suite has a walk in closet that connects directly to a large laundry room that can also be used for messy projects you wouldn't want to do in the kitchen.

Contemporary House Plan 3 Interiors

2010-12-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

On the first level one can visually see from one end of the house to the other, a distance of 53', making the home feel much larger than it is. Running the stairs in a linear pattern along the street elevation provides not only privacy, but also means that interior stairs are not blocking the visual connection between spaces and that the floor area can be fully utilized.

Oregon Coast House 2

2010-11-29T13:22:00.000-08:00

All Plans Copyrighted MCMarchitects 2010, All Rights Reserved

This beachfront residence, located just beyond the foredune, was designed as a primary residence as a family four. The original house, out of which this new residence was created, was a one story, flat roofed vacation house constructed in the early 1960's. In remaking the house the intent was twofold. First, to expand the small residence to meet the needs of an active family. Second, the owner's wished to create a house that reflected the northwest style of architecture with a strong nod to the wife's Scandinavian roots.

The linear plan of the existing house, coupled with zoning restrictions and view opportunities led to a linear, two story solution. The details, shingled exterior and traditional windows recall the great houses of Martha's Vineyard while the scale and massing contribute to a casual elegance. On the entry side a broad porch greets visitors and established the homes pedigree. One enters directly into the Dining Room and the view to the ocean beyond. A pair of fireplaces separate the Dining and Living Rooms and also separate the service wing from the bedroom wings of the ground floor. On the upper level a separate bedroom suite, a gracious Master Suite and a Playroom complete the composition. The Playroom opens onto a rooftop deck that is expressed as a traditional Widow's Walk on the exterior. Throughout the interior natural blond woods, off white paint and simple detailing contribute to the desired Scandinavian feeling and the overall impression of a space that is both traditional and modern at the same time.

Minimum House Plan

2010-11-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

In 1947 Life Magazine published three modern house plans, one was called the Minimum House and was designed by Oregon architect Pietro Belluschi. It was a 25' square house that could be built for $7,000 and later expanded for a growing family. This plan was probably intended for soldiers returning from WWII and ready to start families. The children of those families (known as Baby Boomers) are starting to enter retirement. Our Minimum House Plan is inspired by the original but updated for Baby Boomers who want a small house for cost reasons, because they don't need a large home any more, for a second home or retreat, or because they want to live more sustainably with more efficient use of resources and less maintenance.

Our Minimum House is a 25' by 35' (850 sf plus storage) open plan with a large covered terrace. The Life Magazine article said "the minimum house provides a maximum of pleasant living", which is what we tried to achieve with this updated plan. The space is open and flows around the house. The space is very comfortable with high ceilings and wrap around windows. It will be well suited for entertaining. Some spaces have multiple uses; such as the entry, which in most small homes tends to be tight and cramped or enter directly into the living room, in this plan the space also has a built in desk for home office or desktop computer along with a wall of storage closets. The bathroom is compartmentalized so that guests can use it as a powder room without going through the sleeping area. Two vanity areas allow separate sinks for couples and one has a 6' long counter top for folding laundry or packing your suitcase. There is a large walk-in closet and storage room added to the carport is available to store stuff. So while small in square footage it has plenty of living space and storage for a single person or a couple.

In 1951 Pietro Belluschi designed the Griffith house that was a small home similar to Life's Minimum home. This house survived until a few years ago and has been dismantled and will be reconstructed as the Belluschi Pavilion on the campus of Marylhurst University in Lake Oswego Oregon. You can find information on the Griffith House as well as reprints of the Life Magazine articles here.

Big Box Adaptive Renovation

2010-10-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

We have been renovating over the years a 478,000 sf big box building that was initially built as a manufacturing plant in 1982. We started with various internal modifications in the the early 90's when Hewlett Packard replaced the original user. The most dramatic characteristic of the building is a 400 foot long two story glass roofed atrium running down the center of the building meant to bring light and landscape into the cavernous interior floor spaces. When Hewlit Packard moved out we adapted the building for Consolidated Freightways when they moved their offices to Vancouver, Washington.

The first thing we did was to open up the end of the Atrium and make it the main entry into the building. A heritage truck became the centerpiece of the new entry. The Atrium was pretty much left as originally designed with a distinctly industrial character that included wood block flooring and industrial style lighting. When Consolidated Freightways went out of business we adapted the building again, this time for Nautilus, as their central headquarters.

For Nautilus we transformed the Atrium into a very light and dramatic space to function as the crossroads for employee circulation within the building and not only exposed employees to others in the company, but also showcased their products and emphasized their commitment to a healthy life style. The plants and planters were taken out along with the industrial flooring and lighting. Curved shapes were incorporated that not only reflected their logo but also derived from the distinctive shape of their iconic Bowflex exercise machines. Cubes in the office floors were laid out on a diagonal pattern the let traffic and views flow out into the Atrium.

We are again working on this building, now called Columbia Center, as Nautilus downsizes and the complex will be transformed into a multi-tenant building. This time we are designing the Atrium to become an open space to be used for collaborative or team spaces where people can get together as groups or two people can get away in an alcove for a more personal meeting experience. This allows tenants to plan for greater efficiency and achieve a more agile work space using such concepts as table desking and work sharing spaces.

Jumby Bay Pool Design

2010-09-16T13:33:00.001-07:00

Photos by Dominic Noon
Pool Constructed by Caribbean Water Treatment, Antigua

The design of the new Jumby Bay used softly shaped curves for courtyard walls and terrace edges to create a relaxed environment that sits comfortably in the landscape. The design for the new pool located on the point overlooking Pond Bay continues this concept. This infinity edge pool provides a foreground that blurs the edge between sea and sand and extends the water up close to the buildings for guests that want to remain in shade or are not able to traverse the sandy beach.

Marysville School Park Update

2010-09-02T14:27:00.001-07:00

We have some new pictures by Josh Partee of the Marysville School Playground. These pictures focus on a key design element of the grass mounds. Inspired by some of Maya Lin's work, they have proved to be a popular play area that was modest in cost. It is interesting to watch kids use these grass hills, they seem driven to run up, run down, run around and run through them. They also devise games - usually centered around possession of one hill or another. The hills also create small amphitheaters for more structured activities and are used as seating areas to hang out while overlooking other parts of the park.

The school district does not have the budget to maintain a manicured park so the intent is that the hills will eventually have a more rustic landscape character and not require frequent mowing to be functional. Elsewhere in the Park some of the play walls have been tagged, despite our attempt to use contrasting painted strips to make them less attractive to taggers. Unfortunately the school remains closed because of the fire, however, the community makes good use of the Park.

Contemporary House Plan 2

2010-08-17T09:39:00.001-07:00

Ground Floor Plan

Upper Floor Plan

This contemporary house design is 1,966 SF, 80 feet deep and 38 feet wide. The plan may suit a single person, a couple or as a retirement home. It is relatively small yet will feel very spacious with rooms opening onto rooms and a 15'6" high ceiling in the Great Room. The Loft above the Master Bedroom could be a media center, home office, or made into a third bedroom. The center of the house is Great Room with a kitchen and flanked by an outdoor courtyard on one side and a covered porch on the other. This allows a lot of light into the home and a direct connection with the outdoors without compromising privacy if place on a narrow city lot. The house can rely on natural ventilation because there is positive cross air flow in nearly all rooms, reducing dependency on air-conditioning in moderate climates.

The Garage Carport configuration allows use of the garage to be flexible, either for storage, workspace or "man cave". For those people with one car it can still be protected by the carport when the garage is used for other purposes, together with the advantage of being able to unload your stuff and get it inside while undercover on those rainy or snowy days.

The stair to the loft is actually cabinetry so all the space can be captured as storage or display space for the kitchen. All the halls in the house have windows on one side so they feel open and help connect the outside terraces with the inside. The laundry room has a 12' long counter so it can become a project area for art or crafts.

This is a plan that wraps a house around private outdoor spaces and gardens providing an efficient home with a very spacious open feel.

Contemporary House 2 Exteriors

2010-08-17T09:34:00.001-07:00

A long single slope roof punctuated by a vertical chimney plus a clerestory to light the entry forms the shape of this design. The simple roof means there are less hips, valleys or intersecting walls that can cause future water problems. The roof lends itself well to solar collector applications. Courtyard walls in a contrasting material provide massing relief while at the same time visually extending the size of this small narrow plan.

Contemporary House 2 Interiors

2010-08-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

Wherever you are in the main living areas of this house you get long diagonal views into other areas, and sometimes through windows to other parts of the house. This makes the house feel very large from the inside despite the modest size of rooms. Courtyard walls and high side windows allow views and light from the side even if placed on a narrow lot with nearby neighbors - without having to have the drapes pulled all the time for privacy. A pair of pocket doors allow even the small Guest Bedroom space to open up to the outdoor courtyard and to capture the space of the hallway to expand the feel of room size.

What Makes a Place Sacred?

2010-07-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

St. Joseph's Church, Wenatchee, Washington

Our Lady of Fatima, Moses Lake, Washington

Christ the King Church, Richland, Washington

It has been said and proven over time that even an open field can be a sacred place. What makes it sacred is often the will of those who attend to it and bring their beliefs to the act of communion with God. However, over the millennia man has sought to build special places that, through their architectural expression, give form to the sacred and create a purposeful and immeasurable dimension to the religious experience. Michael J. Crosbie, in his book "Houses of God, Religious Architecture for a New Millennium" has said of sacred places that "Through their embellishment and adornment, they tell us stories. These Buildings are "books" that can be "read" recounting articles of faith." Most of us can recognize a church, mosque or synagogue by the form, materials and presence the building offers. They sit as major buildings in our neighborhoods acting as centers of the community. Their materials are carefully selected and brought together to express their role and, through their detailing, to enhance the reading of the building as sacred.

Inside the emphasis on the quality of light, the majestic character of space, the verticality and the focus and organization of the space furthers the story that this space is sacred. On closer examination these spatial qualities are reinforced and enhanced by the use of familiar materials put together with care and attention to craft. The making of a sacred space is an important event that depends on the balance achieved between the conception of the design and the smallest details. When these elements all come together no one needs to tell you the space is sacred, your experience makes it so.

Doug Benson, AIA
dbenson@mcmarchitects.com

St. Joseph's Church, Wenatchee, Washington

2010-07-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

Photos by Loren Nelson

The Church complex provides a main Nave with seating for 900, a Daily Chapel that seats 100, Administrative offices and a two story Education/Fellowship Hall wing. The design is organized around a courtyard that provides space for Easter Vigil and other liturgical events as well as acting as a Parish gathering space. On the interior the Nave's arched truss central clerestory form recalls the hand hewn oak trusses of the original church this replaced and adds an element of respect and memory of the church's history for future generations. Though more abstract, the Reredos wall uses warm woods to also recall the original church and create a more dramatic backdrop for worship.

All Saints Church, Lewiston, Idaho

2010-07-20T15:55:00.001-07:00

In Lewiston, Idaho, three individual Parishes are in the process of combining into one and are planning to build a new Campus to include the Church, Social Hall and Elementary School on a 42 acre site. MCM Architects are creating a long term master plan and the design and construction drawings for the Church and Social Hall. The project is organized around a central courtyard that creates a common point of entry to all the facilities and allows the church to be directly visible from inside the school. The overall form and materials of the project are traditional in nature with an emphasis on Roman Bascilica Churches for inspiration. A tower from one of the three existing Churches will be relocated and rescaled to act as a Sheep Gate entry marker to the courtyard.

We believe that the design of a sacred space is in itself an act of faith. The Architect and the Congregation must share a belief that, through collaboration and a shared set of values, they can create a space that will serve not only the present members but also future generations. That faith and the results of several centuries of Church architecture continue to inform each new building that is built for every faith, in every corner of the world. Religious structures are testaments to a deep collaboration between us as Architects and the Congregations and Clergy, who through their consent, allow us to bring forth our creative energy to assist in their service to God. Great sacred architecture is always a collaboration.

In this project the lineage of the old churches represents an important part of the community and we are committed to bringing elements of that collective memory forward in the creation of a new sacred place. A worship space is by nature a place of memory. We endeavor to reflect that memory in ways that are both direct and recognizable as will as abstract and representative of the spirit of the old place.

Doug Benson, AIA
dbenson@mcmarchitects.com

Marylhurst University, Clark Plaza

2010-07-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

The existing conditions

The design concept

The finished product

The space between the main classroom building and the Student Union at Marylhurst University in Lake Oswego, Oregon, was a parking lot and service yard for deliveries and garbage collection from the kitchen. So every day people had to wind their way through a parking lot and past the trash bins to get between the two main campus buildings. There was also about a six foot change in elevation. The design concept for the space was to use the simple and clean modernist elevation of the Commons building as a stage backdrop for a casual landscape amphitheater. The stage has become a gathering place for students and faculty. The movable furniture can be rearranged to meet a multitude of activities, from small classes to catered events or performances. Two diagonal ramps provide ADA accessibility and are placed to facilitate connection to areas of campus on either side. This way the ADA accessible route is not an awkward set of ramps placed to the side, but is the main circulation path used by everyone.

This is an example of how a major impact can be made on the usability, character and image of a campus for a relatively small amount of money.

Marylhurst University from the Air

2010-06-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

We have worked for years on the Master Plan for Marylhurst University in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Last year the first two phases of construction were completed. When we started Marylhurst had a stunning campus setting, bounded on the East by the Willamette River and surrounded by lushly vegetated ravines that set it apart as a green Island within a growing suburb. However, despite it's acres of green lawn and beautiful mature trees, it had only one short sidewalk and a critical parking shortage that caused students to race around in their cars looking for a space to park. Unfortunately since there were no sidewalks people were also walking in the same drives and parking lots to get between buildings.

The design problem was how to increase parking and also separate pedestrian circulation without paving over the green campus. As it turned out there was enough "paved surface" to park the cars necessary - it was just poorly utilized and laid out, giving the impression there was no where to park. The parking areas were poorly distributed in terms of the buildings where students were trying to get to class. The changing character of education had also to be taken into consideration with greater use of online classes and less need to be on campus. Public transit was also considered, however, service to this suburban location was slim and the transit agency refused to route buses onto the campus to make it more convenient for students and faculty.

The design solution was to split the main entry road so that parking was better distributed on either side of campus to free the campus interior for pedestrian circulation only. Parking lots were laid out with angled parking, which is faster to get into, and if you found one lot full the exit drive lead you directly into the next lot. The result being that on campus traffic is now dispersed and it takes much less time to find a space and park your car. We also utilized parallel on street parking along the access drives to reduce the amount of paved area and to provide a safety buffer between campus traffic and pedestrian sidewalks.

With half of the Master Plan implemented so far, it is noticeably easier to drive on campus and the ability to walk on campus is greatly enhanced. And while some may lament the loss of green space for new roads, in the end the plan does not significantly increase the amount of paved area that existed before. And there are now stronger pedestrian connections between buildings and new areas for students to congregate outside in the beautiful park like setting.

Hacienda Las Palomas

2010-06-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

All Plans ©2010 MCM Architects ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This plan is a Spanish style villa where simple rooms, long veranda's and courtyards of different sizes are combined into a walled compound where it is difficult to distinguish indoor space from outdoor space. Circulation from one room to another involves traveling through a courtyard. Each courtyard is unique in size or character, each with a different type of water feature and landscape. Each courtyard is a room of it's own.

The courtyards allow every room to be cooled by natural ventilation while at the same time breaking the force of heavy trade winds. The long verandahs and loggias provide shade to also help cool the buildings without having to rely on air conditioning. When air conditioning is used it requires that you be either inside or outside with doors and windows shut. The design concept of this plan is to use natural cooling strategies so the indoor and outdoor rooms (courtyards) function as one building.

Sandpines Golf Resort

2010-06-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

Sandpines is a dunes type golf course on the Oregon coast in Florence. This design is for a small resort facility made up of 8 for sale Condominium units that can be rented out as 12 Guest Suites. A Spa and Banquet facility supplement the existing Clubhouse.

All Plans © MCM Architects 2010 All Rights Reserved

Each Condominium has two or three bedroom suites plus an adjacent lock-out suite that can be rented separately. Each unit features an entry porch and mud room where guests can change their shoes and store club bags. Each unit also has an open main living area with kitchen and wrap around dining banquet. All this opens onto a glass screened patio. All the bedroom suites have full width windows facing the golf course and ocean beyond, plus spa type bathrooms with showers and soaking tubs. Cart paths connect each unit to the course and clubhouse.

The buildings have been designed to echo the undulating dunes with one, two and three story sections placed in a staggered linear string along the first fairway. The impact on the rolling dune site was kept minimal by closely attaching the units in a meandering line for the smallest footprint possible.

Marysville School Park from the Air

2010-06-02T13:39:00.001-07:00

Photos by Skyshots

Marysville School Park was a Pro Bono project done by MCM Architects last year. Marysville School unfortunately burned three weeks after the Park's grand opening. The Park has now been reopened to the neighborhood after being fenced off due to the fire. The school district has decided to rebuild Marysville School -- so eventually the children will be able to return to the park and playground that we worked so hard to get built for them.

Click here to see the Park's design description.

Farm House Plan 1

2010-05-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

Plans © MCMarchitects 2010 AA Rights Reserved
Ground Floor Plan

Plans © MCMarchitects 2010 All Rights Reserved
Upper Floor Plan

This contemporary farm or ranch house has 4,013 sf on two floors. It has a wrap around covered porch. The garage is detached, connected to the main house by a covered breezeway which enters into a large Mud Room. The central Living Room opens to the covered porch on one end and a private courtyard on the other. A Master Bedroom wing includes a home office that has windows on three sides for abundant light and views. Two upstairs bedrooms flank a central family room so guests, or children, have their own gathering area.

The steep gable roofs and wrap around porch suggest an updated Victorian style farm house that will sit comfortably on a large country or ranch property.

Portland Guest House

2010-05-13T14:37:00.001-07:00

This is a guest house built in the gardens of a Portland estate. The design intent was to create an eclectic environment that offered a unique experience for the guests, yet totally detached from the main house for the privacy of both owner and guest. Hand forged iron brackets were used for structural connections on the exposed beam structure. The same artist fashioned the iron stair railings. The building exterior layers stone, stucco, and slate to create a countryside cottage look.

Portland Small House Renovation

2010-05-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

Existing House

Existing floor plan

New first Floor Plan

New Second Floor Plan

A complete transformation of a 1000 sf Bungalow into a 1700 sf contemporary house. The simple geometry of the house is expanded to two stories with floor to ceiling glass creating light filled spaces.

Pasture Point

2010-05-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

Pasture Point was one of the first villas we did on Jumby Bay. The Mediterranean style architecture was well suited to this Island location because the building materials of stucco, terra cotta tile roofs and floors stand up well to the tropical climate. The contrast between white stucco, red terra cotta tile and dark tropical hardwoods provides a richness that does not need to have a lot of architectural detail added. In the main living room antique Asian carved columns were added, however, for artistic interest.

Island House Plan 6

2010-05-04T16:10:00.001-07:00

Main Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

This plan is a traditional Island plan where four corner rooms surround a central living area. This configuration allows all rooms to get ventilation from four sides. In this 3,850 sf plan accordion doors allow the central Great Room to be completely opened to the outdoors, becoming an outdoor space. This is more efficient because you are not building both interior and outdoor covered space, reducing construction cost and resulting in more spacious rooms. The Great Room is 40' X 32', with a 21' X 18' loft suspended above.

There are two identical Bedroom Suites facing the pool and a third Guest Bedroom in back. The Guest Bedroom/Laundry wing could be configured for two smaller bedrooms with the laundry moved to the Garage or out building.

Island House Plan 6 Exteriors

2010-05-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

Island House Plan 6 Interiors

2010-05-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

Oregon Coast House Construction 2

2010-04-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

This house was designed from the inside out. The coastline views from it's bluff top location are stunning. The design lays out each room, not only to have a view of the ocean, but to experience a panoramic view of the ocean and coastline. The house is now framed up and the windows and doors are installed.

The pictures above show the view from the main floor living areas. No matter where you are you see the full panorama of the coastline.

The two photos above show how the two guest bedroom upstairs capture the view.

The Oregon Coast is regularly pounded by hurricane force winds in the winter so the window wall is created by using a collection of smaller windows set in the framing to reduce the size of unsupported glass exposed to the wind. Additionally, steel framing reinforces the tall walls facing the ocean. Nearly all windows facing the ocean are fixed to better resist wind driven rain, with operable windows located on the sides out of the direct wind.

Island House Plan 9

2010-04-08T14:57:00.001-07:00

Downstairs main Verandah

Upstairs Owners Suite Verandah

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

This 7,200 sf plan is comprised of three buildings and a service building. The central main building has the kitchen and indoor seating areas with a large covered verandah on the main floor. The second floor is the owners retreat - with it's own large covered verandah. Two identical guest wings frame a swimming pool and are connected to the main building by covered walkways. The four guest bedroom all have large bathrooms with walk-in closets and outdoor showers. If the house is going to be in a rental pool, having the four guest bedroom equal in amenities makes it more desirable for multiple couples since no one is stuck in a back bedroom without a private bathroom.

When placed correctly on a site, the "U" configuration can protect the the pool and terrace areas from blowing wind. Each of the buildings are only one room deep so they can be adequately cooled by natural ventilation, and do not need to rely on air conditioning. The service building has a storage garage, laundry workspace, staff toilet and a covered porch for staff to hang out away from the main buildings.

The two 49' wide verandahs are the outdoor living space for the house with roll down rain screens for inclement weather. The buildings are simple and uncomplicated in style for a casual and relaxing Island lifestyle.

San Francisco In-fill Housing

2010-04-06T16:05:00.001-07:00

All Rights Reserved ©2010 MCM Architects

This is a design concept for an in-fill housing project that combines a historical building with a new building on a 25 foot wide vacant lot next door, on Sutter Street in San Francisco. The elevator becomes the connecting element between the old and new. Units in the new building become open loft type spaces, while units in the old building are crafted out of exisiting rooms that have interesting historical architectural woodwork and detail to be preserved.

Contemporary House Plan 1

2010-03-18T14:21:00.001-07:00

Ground Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan (Optional, or could be left unfinished)

This courtyard plan allows a lot of flexibility for future changes without expanding beyond it's initial footprint. This house starts as a 1660 sf two bedroom, two bath home on one level. Adding the upper level above the garage increases it's area to 2309 sf, while incorporating the enclosed garage as living space increases the area to 2670 sf. The house is approximately 66' deep and 50' wide.

The 16' x 17' courtyard brings light deep inside the house and allows for easy natural ventilation in the summer. The courtyard provides private and safe outdoor living space even within a dense urban neighborhood.

The optional space above the garage could be left unfinished until it is needed to save cost. It is large enough to be divided into two bedrooms with a bath for children, or can be made into a large master suite for parents. In the illustration it is shown as a large media work space for two people.

The separation of the garage into an enclosed area and an open carport allows the garage to be incorporated into the living space of the house, while still leaving a covered parking space for those people with one car. The garage could be remodeled into an office or study at a later date. It could be made into a family room by opening the wall into the house, which will connect it to the kitchen and provide views into the courtyard.

So from a single footprint, or foundation, you can have a comfortable two bedroom house, or a larger four bedroom house, or a four bedroom house with office or family room. Flexibility to grow. Flexibility to change over time.

Contemporary House Plan 1 Exteriors

2010-03-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

A simple large "umbrella" pitched roof covers the house, with overhangs for sun control and rain protection. The windows on the side of the house are small, or placed high, for privacy if neighboring houses are close by. If a lot's side yard is wide enough, a fenced courtyard off the Master Bathroom can be added (as shown on the plan). Sliding glass doors can open the bathroom to this courtyard, and even an outdoor shower could be added.

Contemporary House Plan 1 Interiors

2010-03-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Living, Dining, Master Bedroom and Loft have high ceilings. Nearly all rooms open onto the Courtyard making the rooms fell larger and visually connecting the interior spaces. This house will feel much larger from the inside than the 1660 sf footprint would suggest.

Jumby Bay Island

2010-03-11T13:14:00.001-08:00

We got involved with Jumby Bay in 1983, when the owner at that time asked us to look at this Island he owned two miles off Antigua and make some recommendations at to what he could do with it. The result 27 years later is shown above. Initially there were just a couple of rundown houses, 8 odd shaped hotel bungalows, an aging generator and some small cisterns on the Island. We started with a 12 room hotel, mainly as a vehicle to get people to the Island to see the real estate. The hotel grew to 28 rooms, we then tore it down and designed a new hotel that re-opened last year. We started the real estate development with a design for some attached villas that sold for about $250,000. The first freestanding villas we designed cost between $1 and $2 million. We eventually designed about 16 villas and all the attached villas for the Island. The villas are now are selling for $15 to $20 million and above. The Island is completely self sufficient with it's own power plant, water plant and waste disposal. It has been an incredible journey. We went from having no phone service (calls had to be placed from pay phone siting in a mosquito breeding puddle on Antigua) to using our iPhones for phone calls, emails and to check drawings back at our office in Portland.

Jumby Bay is a prime example of how architecture and planning does not stay frozen in time, but must be flexible enough to evolve and change over the years.

Portland River House Renovation

2010-03-03T08:53:00.000-08:00

A client purchased a nondescript and dated contemporary home located on a stunning river front lot. The home was renovated to showcase the client's art collection and extensive wine cellars. The house was expanded and main living areas reorganized to take better advantage of the dramatic river and city views while opening up the rooms for more congenial entertaining.

Island House Plan 1

2010-02-19T13:58:00.001-08:00

All Plans ©MCMarchitects 2010 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

A design for a narrow peninsula of land on a private Caribbean Island. Influenced by Japanese architecture - the design incorporates the simplicity and human scale of the tatami mat module, and utilizes shoji style sliding walls to create an indoor-outdoor Island design. Japanese architecture is well suited to Island living because it responds to shared conditions of humid heat and wind present in both locales.

Hawaii House

2010-02-18T16:18:00.001-08:00

Landscape Plan by LA Studio ©2004 ALL Rights Reserved

House designed for the Big Island set on a hillside overlooking the ocean. Series of terraces cascade down from the swimming pool like Bali rice paddies. The rooms all open with large sliding doors to the view of the ocean in one direction and in the opposite direction, open to an internal pond system integrated with small courtyards and quiet retreats.

Jumby Bay Beach Bar

2010-02-09T10:45:00.001-08:00

The beach front Veranda for Jumby Bay Resort is an evolution of remodels and additions that happened over the years. This year the dining and bar areas were repositioned to be protected from the rain yet still be open to the beach. The building structure was kept light and unobtrusive so the guest's experience was focused on the palm lined beach and Caribbean sea.

Island Resort Suite Concept

2010-02-03T14:20:00.001-08:00

©MCMarchitects 2010 All Rights Reserved

This is a concept for a resort suite that can be developed as duplexes and tightly grouped on a site for high density. It is a combination of indoor and outdoor space using a splash pool that spans it's whole width. A central atrium allows light and air into the interior of the suite, so even though it may have party walls on both sides, a guest always feels connected with the outdoors.

Resort Room Design Concept

2010-02-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

©MCMarchitects 2006 All Rights Reserved

©MCMarchitects 2006 All Rights Reserved

This resort room concept creates a villa that can be sold, rented as one unit or rented separately as three rooms. The center unit has kitchen facilities and an upstairs master bedroom with sitting room. Two adjacent bedroom suites are accessed through outdoor courtyards so there are no internal connections between rooms. Each suite is entered through a private courtyard with fountain. There is more outdoor covered space than indoor space for a truly Caribbean living experience. When northerners vacation in the Islands they want to be outdoors in a garden environment, not confined to a narrow balcony or terrace as provided in most resorts. In this design the sleeping, bath and kitchen areas are enclosed for bug control or to be air conditioned, though all these rooms can be cooled by natural breezes. The outdoor rooms need to placed on the leeward side of the wind.

Condominium Kitchen Remodel

2010-02-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

Before

This kitchen remodel was for a client in Pittsburgh, PA who combined two units in a high rise condominium into one unit. The kitchen was a totally enclosed windowless room. Our design opened the kitchen to the surrounding rooms and hall - using very clean and contemporary lines to create a sense of openess.

Island Flex House Design Concept

2010-02-02T09:47:00.001-08:00

We developed the Island Flex House design concept for Jumby Bay, a private Island off Antigua, where lots averaged about two and a half acres in size. The concept is based on the idea that each room is a building. This works well in an Island setting because it allows each room to be well ventilated with natural trade winds and provides a high degree of plan flexibility and privacy for houses that are basically enclosed outdoor spaces. It also allows villa compounds to be easily expanded with additional guest bedrooms without disruption to the existing house.

Flexibility of placing building components on site allow maximum advantage to be taken of view or wind conditions, which can be a governing design criteria in some Island environments.

Very different houses can be made from some simple common building components, as illustrated in this post. Simple easy construction is essential when building in some third world countries, and can help logistically when building on Islands where transportation costs and accessibility of building materials matter. The following posts show some of the building components used to create an Island Flex House design.

Island Flex House Design, Great Room Component

2010-01-27T14:45:00.001-08:00

The Great Room building forms the core around which any number of bedroom cottages or other buildings can be added to create an Island villa compound. This plan is for a very open configuration between sitting and kitchen areas. The sitting area can be fully opened on three sides by sliding doors so that it is both an indoor and outdoor room. The kitchen area can be closed off from the sitting area to keep out marauding insects and birds. Care needs to be taken to make sure the outdoor dining area is on the leeward side of the building, or is sheltered by other buildings from the wind or it will be unusable much of the time.

Island Flex House Design, Great Room Component 2

2010-01-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

This Great Room component has a horizontal orientation and includes a study or media room. The kitchen is full closed off from the living areas for those that will be using staff or do not like to see the kitchen mess. The building shape is simple and symmetrical so that the exposed roof framing looks logical and balanced when seen from inside. Nearly all our Island homes have exposed roof framing for greater room height and to avoid closed in voids where any number of insects and critters can take up residence.

Island Flex House, Master Bedroom Component

2010-01-27T14:07:00.001-08:00

One of the problems we faced over the years designing houses for people in the Caribbean is that they always wanted the size and number of rooms they had in their stateside homes. But in the Islands you also want to live outside so large covered terraces would be added greatly increasing the building area which directly relates to construction cost. In this bedroom component area is minimized by doing only an indoor sleeping area and making the sitting area a covered outdoor terrace. Sliding doors allow the sitting area to be closed in depending on rain, wind and privacy needs.

Island Flex House Design, Master Bedroom Component 2

2010-01-27T13:58:00.001-08:00

This is a larger Master Bedroom option that has a larger dressing and closet area, as well as soaking tub along with his and hers vanity and shower areas. The covered terrace opens into an intimate private courtyard that could have a fountain for cooling water sounds.

Island Flex House Design, Master Bedroom 3 Component

2010-01-27T13:51:00.001-08:00

This is the largest free standing Master Bedroom component which provides owners with a private retreat from the main house that might be full of guests. The bathroom has a tub opening onto a private walled courtyard with two outdoor showers. The sleeping area is indoors as is a separate study. A large covered outdoor terrace can be enclosed or opened up with sliding doors.

Island Flex House Design, Single Bedroom Component

2010-01-26T16:29:00.001-08:00

This is a bedroom cottage that can be clustered closely to other parts of the house, or if the site is large enough placed at a distance for privacy. The sleeping area is indoors as is the bathroom and dressing area. The sitting area is a covered terrace that can be closed off with sliding louvered doors. The terrace and bath open onto a private walled courtyard that allows the air to circulate freely, so that if the site has good wind exposure, air conditioning will not be necessary.

Island Flex House Design, Double Bedroom Component

2010-01-26T16:21:00.001-08:00

Two identical bedroom suites in a simple rectilinear building. Each suite has a private walled courtyard that can have an outdoor shower. The sitting areas are roofed outdoor areas with sliding louvered doors on two sides so the room can be closed on one or both sides depending on wind direction or privacy needs.

Island Flex House Design, Entry Component

2010-01-26T16:14:00.000-08:00

This building can be used as an entry portico into a villa compound. Separating the laundry area from the main living areas can be advantageous when there is day staff so their chatter and music doesn't disturb.

Island Flex House Design, Entry/Study Component

2010-01-26T16:06:00.000-08:00

This service building can be placed near the entry of a villa compound. This particular one was designed for a private Island where only golf carts were allowed so it shows a covered parking area for a cart. The Study can be a flexible space used for an overflow sleeping space or for live in staff.

Island Flex House Design, Pool House Component

2010-01-26T15:58:00.000-08:00

A shaded arbor for outdoor dining with an outdoor grill. A changing room and a storage room is available for pool equipment or cushion storage when the house is closed up. Bougainvillea can be grown over the arbor for a truly tropical feel, or a retractable sail cloth canvas awning can be used for some rain protection.

Island Flex House Design Concept, Site

2010-01-25T14:07:00.001-08:00

Creating a villa compound by grouping a series of buildings allows you to make full use of a sites potential, be it view exposure, or taking advantage of trade winds to cool the rooms. The spaces between buildings can become protected outdoor spaces as shown in the cloister below that has been formed by covered walkways connecting the adjacent buildings/rooms.

Another advantage is that the Flex House concept can create a very large home that does not dominate a site as shown below with a villa we did many years ago on Jumby Bay in Antigua. Though a very large house, as you walk around the site the buildings and connecting spaces are very personal and comfortable in scale. Never do you feel like you are lost in a 13,000 sf house.

Island House Plan 5

2010-01-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

All Plans Copyrighted by MCM Architects 2010 All Rights Reserved

Another version of the "L" shaped plan concept where two wings shelter covered open living areas when placed to face the leeward side of a property. This plan also has a cloister that provides a private wind protected alternative for dining when winds change direction and come from the leeward side. All four bedrooms have private bathrooms and outdoor shower courtyards enhancing it's rentability for multiple couples. A large removed Laundry Room with bathroom provides a place for day staff.

While the building shape and hip roofs are simple, using arches or other fretwork can provide a lot of character and detail as shown in the sketches above.

Island House Plan 3

2010-01-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

All PLans Copyrighted by MCM Architects 2010 All Rights Reserved

This plan is about living outdoors. Placing the "L" so that it presents it's back to the prevailing winds and rain, leaves the covered outdoor living areas on the protected leeward side of the house. Two wings form the simple geometry of the plan, one wing has three guest bedrooms and the other a more private Master Bedroom. All bathrooms open onto private courtyards with outdoor showers. A large Kitchen with Family area provides a refuge in times of stormy weather.

The simple gable roof forms together with the straight forward building configuration make for uncomplicated construction. The "L" shape allows allows all rooms to be ventilated by natural breezes to reduce the need or reliance on air conditioning and the resultant power use. The plans include cisterns under terraces for collecting rain water.

Design Visualization

2010-01-13T14:20:00.000-08:00

Photo by Don Riddle

The drawing above was the sketch used to visualize the proposed design for the new rooms at Jumby Bay. The intent was to give a feeling for the character and style of room being proposed. The drawing is computer generated from a 3D design model, however, rather than rely on photo realistic rending capabilities of the software, the view was enhanced by hand with a digitizing tablet to provide a more interpretive impression of what the room was going to be like. A photo of the actual finished room is shown on top.

Villa Sopramare, Jumby Bay

2010-01-12T16:02:00.001-08:00

All Plans Copyrighted by MCM Architects 2010 All Rights Reserved

The living spaces of this design are a line of totally open terraces overlooking the pool and the view of the sea beyond. A sitting room provides shelter when the weather is too stormy and serves as a media room otherwise. Access to this villa is through an arched gallery that opens into an internal courtyard surrounded by a covered walkway. Three guest suites are on a second floor above the courtyard, while the Master Bedroom and another suite flank the house as separate buildings for maximum privacy. Each building of the complex is connected by a variety of smaller intimate courtyards so that as you move through the house you cannot tell whether you are indoors or out.

This Villa is completing construction and is available for sale, click here for more information.

Oregon Coast House Construction 1

2010-01-12T09:17:00.000-08:00

This 3,500 sf house is under construction on the Oregon Coast. The primary design goal was to capture the dramatic ocean and coastline view possible from it's headland site. These photographs from inside the house as it is being framed show how stunning the view is going to be. The first floor plan of this house is totally open so that whether you are in the living, dining, game area, or kitchen you will enjoy an almost 180 degree panorama of the Oregon Coastline.

Marysville School Fire

2010-01-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

Photo by Skyshots

On November 10 2009, only 3 weeks after we opened the park, Marysville school caught fire. Luckily all the students were evacuated from the building by the staff and taken to a nearby Library. The school is about 50% destroyed. The park was not damaged but is now fenced off to keep people out of the damaged buildings. It is hoped that the park will be able to reopen soon so at least the people in the neighborhood can use it. The children are now attending school across town in a school that had previously been closed down.

Marysville School Park

2010-01-11T11:02:00.000-08:00

MCM Architects donated their services to design a playground and park for Marysville Elementary School in SE Portland. Funding for construction was from private donations, City of Portland and the Portland Development Commission. The playground design uses geometric patterns and natural shapes to stimulate children's creative use of the play environment. A series of grass mounds were a great hit with the kids who ran over them and invented games involving gaining possession of a mound. The ancient geometry of the "Labyrinth" also facinated the kids who immeadiately turned it into a race about who could get to the center first and stay within the path. The park design focused on creating different defined areas of interest rather than rely on typical pieces of expensive playground equipment, which helped to bring the park in on budget.

Jumby Bay Site Plan Design

2010-01-06T13:32:00.000-08:00

Image by Don Riddle

All Plans Copyrighted by MCM Architects 2010 All Rights Reserved

The site plan of the new Jumby Bay Resort lines the suites in a gentle arc along a slight rise above the beach. The intent is to make the buildings recede into the landscape so they do not overwhelm the beach. By doing a single row of buildings every room has an unobstructed view across palm studded lawns to the beach and ocean. There are no slot views between adjacent buildings. All buildings are one story so there is no one above you. Curved privacy walls and dense vegetation separate adjoining clusters. Every guest suite is totally private, yet open to the sea.

Jumby Bay Estate Suite Design

2010-01-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

Photo by Don Riddle

All plans copyrighted by MCM Architects 2010 All Rights Reserved

The Estate Suite is formed by a cluster of three rooms, a Courtyard Suite and two Pool Suites. Each room can be rented separately, or they can be combined into one three bedroom villa. The central room has been enhanced with a kitchen, small study and a larger residential sized pool. Removable screen walls allow two terraces to be combined into one large wrap around patio. The other room is accessed from the central courtyard. There are no interconnecting interior doors to assure privacy between rooms when rented individually. Each bedroom has a private courtyard with outdoor shower and tub.

Design of Pool Suite at Jumby Bay

2009-12-28T13:39:00.000-08:00

Image by Don Riddle

All Plans copyrighted by MCM Architects 2009 All Rights Reserved

Pool Suites have a private courtyard entry, which when you open the gate there is a direct view through the room out to the water. The Suite consists of a large living room with tall ceilings and a separate bedroom. The bath and dressing area have an over sized shower, all of which opens out onto a private courtyard with an outdoor shower and soaking tub. These courtyards have curvilinear walls to soften the perimeter and expand the sense of space around the building walls. A large covered outdoor terrace overlooks a private pool. All rooms at Jumby Bay have a direct view of the ocean.

Design of Courtyard Suite at Jumby Bay

2009-12-23T13:34:00.000-08:00

Photo by Don Riddle

Plans copyrighted by MCM Architects 2009 All Rights Reserved

The rooms at Jumby Bay are designed as indoor and outdoor spaces. Each suite has a gated entry courtyard for privacy, an interior living and sleeping area, a covered outdoor living area, an outdoor sunbathing terrace and a private outdoor shower courtyard with soaking tub. The Courtyard Suite, shown here, are clustered in buildings with no more than three rooms each. The rooms, while air-conditioned, are designed to allow flow through ventilation to cool the rooms naturally for those guests that do not want to rely on air-conditioning.

The suites at Jumby Bay are more than just a hotel room with a balcony, they are four spacious private indoor and outdoor spaces for guests to enjoy.

The New Jumby Bay Resort Opens

2009-12-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

MCM Architects designed the original Long Island Resort 26 years ago on a private Island 2 miles off Antigua, West Indies. The resort name changed to Jumby Bay and this year it was nearly totally rebuilt from the ground up. When we originally designed the resort in 1983 no one had any idea of who would come to such a remote location and how much they would be willing to pay. Over the years the Island evolved into one of the most exclusive resorts in the Caribbean, however, over the years the climate (not to mention hurricanes) took it's toll on the buildings and peoples tastes in resort environments changed. So the decision was made to tear down and build new.

The original Estate House remained along with 12 adjacent rooms. The beach restaurant and bar was extensively remodeled and expanded and 28 new suites built. The resort has re-opened this month after being closed for over a year during construction.

Jumby Bay is a Rosewood Resort