Before & After: It’s Hard to Believe This Sleek Modernist Sanctuary Started as a 1950s Ranch House

The 1952 dwelling that Greg Hoffman and his wife, Kirsten Brady, bought in Portland, Oregon, had many virtues. It had history (the first owner was an inventor who made stereoscopic devices), it had a strong architectural pedigree (it was designed by respected local architect Roscoe Hemenway), and above all, it had views. The house, which is sited atop a hill in one of the highest areas of the city, offers a sweeping vista of downtown Portland, Mount Hood, the Columbia River, and other landmarks.