Royal II

Royal II is the latest installment in William / Kaven Architecture's collection of private residences perched on several steeply sloped sites within Forest Park, a 5,000-acre woodland sitting west of downtown Portland. The design for the Royal collection of homes began with a simple thesis: create an opportunity to live among the trees without sacrificing the conveniences of urban life. Located within minutes of downtown and less than 500 feet from the renowned Wildwood Trail, Royal II is an urban treehouse that offers respite from the bustling city.

Unfolding in bands of transparency down a verdant slope, Royal II opens onto staggering views of one of the largest forested urban reserves in the United States. Terraced levels give way to a forest floor strewn with mossy stones and punctuated by towering Douglas firs and Alder. A simple material palette of dark steel, concrete, glass, and custom bronze-black cladding grounds the house within the surrounding treescape, while an encircling green roof further blurs the distinction between architecture and forest.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing suffuses the entire interior of the house with natural light throughout the day; even the attached oversized garage, which doubles as a fitness area, is backed by a full wall of windows that frames the breathtaking view and creates a uniform transparency across the east-facing elevation. Overhanging balconies and a dramatically cantilevered main floor help to diffuse harsh rays and provide respite from inclement weather.

Upon entry at Royal II, a light-soaked observatory overlooks a lush green roof, seamlessly leading the eye out into the dense forest. A steel screen at the entrance to the observatory, custom-designed by William / Kaven, offers a glimpse of the central stair core and skylight, which beams a shaft of light clear down through the main level to the lowest floor. Furnished with custom seating designed by the Architect and lined with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, the observatory level is intended as both a foyer for greeting guests and a tranquil space to relax or entertain, setting the tone for the house as a whole.