The Boathouse
John’s Landing, Portland, Oregon

The Boathouse occupies one of the last developable sites on Portland’s South Waterfront. The former industrial lot was a brownfield, and the project involved extensive remediation work to remove contaminated soils and safely develop the property. Environmental improvements to the site involved removing a defunct railroad spur to improve aesthetics. Despite its former industrial use, the site presents many natural and recreational opportunities that the design team harnessed.

When designing Boathouse, Dustrud Architecture focused on amplifying the unique features of the site. The overall building massing and specific unit designs are intended to maximize solar access from the south and provide striking views. Many units view the Willamette River and Mount Hood; however, even units on the opposite side of the building have carefully orchestrated views of nearby Sentinel Peak. A large waterfront terrace is elevated to create amazing views of the river and to provide a platform for residents to have a neighborhood experience. The design team improved access to the Greenway Path, cleaning and rebuilding structure and adding landscape plantings to provide a pleasurable and attractive river access for bicyclists and pedestrians. The building itself incorporates boat storage, extensive bike storage, and a colorfully painted dog washing station, each intended to encourage outdoor living.