Scott Edwards Architecture
The Expanse Residence

The Expanse’s glass volume floats above the natural landscape, taking in the panoramic views of the Cascades. The home is located on the edge of a conservation area in Bend, Oregon, offering the residents access to world-class skiing and mountain biking areas and the active lifestyle that comes with the high desert. The design breaks down the house’s volumes to be human-scaled and sites the residence in response to a significant slope and maintaining unobstructed views—all while minimizing footprint. The Expanse’s materiality is expressive of place, and blurring the line between the interior and exterior is prioritized through all-season outdoor spaces and architectural features like the glassy, cantilevered great room immersing occupants into the surrounding environment.

This home is a multi-family, multi-generational part-time residence directly connected to its surroundings. Strong horizontal lines and a timeless and durable material palette of glass, steel, cedar, and regionally sourced basalt integrate the home into the rugged high desert landscape. To reduce impact on the site, the approach to the house is a long, straight driveway running perpendicular to the front elevation. This unassuming approach and the understated entryway conceal the origin of the house’s moniker, The Expanse, which is revealed once inside.