Architecture

Minimal Abundance: Bowstring Truss House by W.PA

View all 20 Photos

With an exploratory approach and firm belief in the importance of experiential authenticity, the designers at Works Partnership Architecture (W.PA) based in the Pacific Northwest have a keen eye for human spatial relationships. Named for the four bowstring trusses and exposed roof framing that define the unique modern home, Bowstring Truss House reinterprets a public space into a private setting that feels both expansive and intimate at the same time. Adapted from a 5,000 square foot warehouse and former auto repair shop, the residence creates “a simplified terrain between earth and sky” and demonstrates W.PA’s enormous sensitivity to the process of reuse. The original building’s massive scale contrasts with the distinct living areas dispersed throughout while a network of skylights span the staggeringly high ceiling, flooding the residence with a generous rays in an attempt to “capture the elusive Pacific Northwest light.” Located in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, the two-year old project is a physical manifestation of W.PA’s incredibly poetic design sensibilities. Graceful beams and complex supports glide fluidly throughout the simple structure that questions the boundaries between interior and exterior. It all culminates in a central courtyard, divinely simple and down to earth, that provides a window into the natural world beside the comforts of home. Concrete floors, exposed wood, glass panels and minimal white accents make for an aesthetic that is up-to-date yet timeless, chic yet cozy, grand yet warm. W.PA’s transformation of an industrial space to an intimate, modern residence truly feels like a work of art.

More for you

Hop Cottage


Architecture

A renovation and extension project that transformed an old cottage into a modern home…

Peckham House


Architecture

A monolithic brick house completed with a stunning attention to detail – in both desi…

Jackson House


Architecture

Designed for a London house, this extension boasts bright spaces finished with a pale…

La Grange


Architecture

An old stone farmhouse converted into a tranquil retreat and studio for product desig…

Casa Polly


Interior Design

A breath of fresh air, this apartment in Rome features a playful juxtaposition betwee…

Marvila House


Architecture

A house in Lisbon, Portugal, redesigned and expanded with living spaces that put the …

Around the world

Treehouse Villas, A Nature-Cen...


Around the World

Seven tree house villas in Bali nestled among lush vegetation on a sloping site that …

Ftelia Beach Club


Around the World

Italian design meets modernist vibes in a tranquil retreat by the sea in Greece.
Nes…

Pa.te.os, A stunning coastal r...


Around the World

Four concrete houses that invite guests to lose themselves in a spectacular coastal l…

Staff Picks

We Rural Country House

Casolare Scarani

The Work of Designer Ben Storms

Introducing the Heymat Contemporary Doormats

Stay Updated

FacebookPinterestRedditLinkedInEmailWhatsAppX