The Defining Features of Pacific Northwest House Architecture

House Designers Capture the Character, Diversity, and Lifestyle of the Region

 

A style where architecture does not get in the way of nature, Pacific Northwest designs accent the region’s natural beauty and landscapes. Whether it’s a rustic cabin, a bungalow, an Arts & Crafts or Craftsman, a Queen Anne, a modern contemporary home, or a houseboat, the Pacific Northwest home is built to work and adapt to its environment.

 

 

While homes around the country are built mostly on flat plots, Northwest homes are constructed on hilly slopes and along the coast. With the mountains, forests, valleys and coastlines surrounding Washington State, Oregon and British Columbia, architects built simply designed homes with very little exterior details - that fit the region’s varied terrain and climate. What emerged is a style that connects the outdoors with the indoors and is sensitive to the environment.

  

Characteristics of the Pacific Northwest Home

In an area where there is so much rain throughout the year, homes are designed with an eye toward capturing sunlight and providing shelter from the elements.

1.  Open floor plans and floor-to-ceiling glass windows capture the sunlight. Wide glass windows open up walls and invite the outdoors inside the home.

2.  Exposed structural components like rustic wood beams

 

3.  Deep overhangs provide shelter from the elements; trees, shrubs, trellises give shade and protection from the sun and wind

 

4.  Simple exteriors and interiors made mostly of wood

 

 

5.  A combination of muted yellow, red and orange hues are used to brighten up the homes against the sometimes gray skies

 

Architectural Styles in the Pacific Northwest

Given the unique terrain and climate of the Pacific Northwest, what kind of architectural plans can one expect to find in the region? A variety of architectural styles exist in Pacific Northwest neighborhoods. However, some are more popular because their basic designs and structures are more adaptable to the landscape, geographical characteristics and weather of the area.

 

Arts & Crafts

The stone foundations and wood exteriors of the Arts and Crafts style homes are very attractive to residents of the Pacific Northwest. The gabled roofs, wide porches and exposed rustic beams are always a welcome sight. Add the bright exterior colors and you have a home that offers a great contrast to the often gray skies.

 

Craftsman

The Craftsman style, with its use of local materials, especially wood and stone, is another appealing choice – because of the abundance of natural resources in the Pacific Northwest. Like the Arts and Crafts style, Craftsman homes have exposed beams, foundations constructed of rock and large porches wrapping around the home. Simplicity and functionality merge into the style and the result is a classic architectural beauty that blends into the Pacific Northwest’s landscape.

 

An offshoot of the Craftsman and Arts and Crafts style is the Bungalow house. Typically one level, some bungalows may feature one-and-one-half stories of living space. They are have low-pitched roofs, covered porches, and large stone/brick bases – again ideal for the climate in the Pacific Northwest. The bungalow also features colorful exteriors like the Arts and Crafts design.

 

Victorian Style

The Victorian style, which flourished in the 1900s, continues its timeless appeal across all regions and populations. With its turrets, dormers, towers, balconies, and colorful decorative features the Victorian plan stands out against a backdrop of mountains and coastlines in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Cabins/Retreats

In a place with mountains, forests and valleys, it makes sense to have a cottage or a log cabin. Easy to build and with readily available materials, cabins are more common in rural areas of the Pacific Northwest.

 

Modern and Contemporary Styles

Styles of the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Contemporary and Modern styles find their way in every region of the country. Attractively simple with clean lines, the Contemporary home is usually designed with a hip roof and large windows. The exteriors may be of wood, brick, rock, or stucco. The Modern style typically has a flat otr extremely low-slope roof with lots of metal, glass, and materials like stone or brick.

 

 

The beauty of the Pacific Northwest style is not in the design itself – but in how it fits into the beautiful natural surroundings. If you’re ready to adapt to the Pacific Northwest aesthetic, there are great architectural styles waiting. Search our entire collection of Pacific Northwest homes here.