This Pristine Portland Midcentury Will Let You Live Among the Trees for $1.35M
This beautifully preserved midcentury home was originally designed by Danish architect John F. Jensen in 1955, and it’s thought to be one of a handful of Jensen-designed residences in Portland’s Vista Hills neighborhood. It merges Scandinavian simplicity with classic Northwest regional style, and it sits on a quarter-acre lot surrounded by old-growth cedar forest and Japanese-inspired landscaping.
The home is tucked behind tranquil, mature landscaping.
The home was purchased in 2004 by a pair of Nike executives, who carefully restored its defining midcentury elements while updating it for modern living with energy-efficient upgrades and water-saving plants. Inside, a palette of natural materials—including teak, cedar, and slate—anchor walls of expansive glass and soaring ceilings.
A built-in bench sits outside the entry. The tongue-and-groove siding is painted a rich charcoal.
A bright-yellow door leads into the foyer and reveals the living room of the 3,630-square-foot home.
On the main floor, three small rooms were combined to create one relaxed open-plan kitchen/dining/living room with an exterior deck and views of the trees.
In addition to its four bedrooms and three baths, the home has a bonus room, a two-car garage, and a large storage room. Grounds designed by local firm Shapiro Didway ensconce an outdoor dining area and fire pit, topping off the serene and private forested retreat, currently listed for $1,350,000. Keep scrolling to see more of the interior.
Per the listing, three sets of Louis Poulsen pendant lights have hung in the home for the past 65 years. Two levels of uninterrupted natural slate flooring knit the interiors together.
The living room has floor-to-ceiling glass, as well as a custom hood at the fireplace.
Custom teak cabinetry is paired with concrete counters throughout.
A corner of the dining room has a wood-burning yakitori grill. A Lyskurv chandelier designed by Poul Gernes hangs over the table.
The home has a cozy, open-plan kitchen/dining/living room.
The new kitchen has Henrybuilt cabinetry with continuous horizontal-grain teak, and stainless-steel appliances by Bosch and Electrolux.
Oversized eaves extend to partially cover the deck, encouraging easy indoor/outdoor flow.
A second family room on the lower level has a midcentury Barzilay Multispan Vertical Storage System.
In 1973, local firm Wong/Hart Architecture designed a new master suite in keeping with Jensen’s original design.
Vaulted ceilings continue in the master bath. The bathrooms throughout the house have Ginger/Axiom fixtures, Artemide vanity lighting, and Philippe Starck for Duravit fixtures.
Local firm Shapiro Didway designed the lush landscaping.
The owners worked with Greg Larson Construction on the sensitive remodel.
The home provides a peaceful forested retreat, just a short drive from downtown Portland.
The home was designed by architect John F. Jensen for the Forbes Mack family, who owned it for 50 years.
9420 SW Malcolm Glen Street, Portland, Oregon, is currently listed for $1,350,000 by Jeff Weithman, Real Estate through Design, (W)here Real Estate.
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Project Credits:
Builder: Greg Larson Construction
Architect of Record: John F. Jensen
Landscape Design: Shapiro Didway
Interior Design: Ninni Studio
Sound Engineer: Integrated Technologies
Cabinetry Design: HenryBuilt
Artwork: Jenny Harmon Scott
Carvings: Totem Shiver
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