The Music Box Residence rises up to capture and accentuate magnificent views of the Portland cityscape

Architects: Scott | Edwards Architects
Location: Portland, United States
Year: 2015
Area: 6.473 ft²/ 601 m²
Photo courtesy: Pete Eckert
Description:

“The Music Box Residence was designed around the intimate and communal qualities of music and family. Situated along a steep sloping site on the outskirts of Portland, the Music Box Residence rises up to capture and accentuate magnificent views of the Portland cityscape and the Cascade Range beyond.

In order to create acoustically separate spaces for the two musicians to practice and teach, the home was split into two distinct sides. The home’s entry bridge leads directly onto the second story of the home, accenting the vertical move from the adjacent street. A glass volume bridges the two sides and serves as a communal gathering space.

On the lowest level, the percussion room is placed against the hill. The husband, a timpanist in the Oregon Symphony, required a large space for a wide array of boisterous percussion instruments. On the main level, screened behind the exterior bamboo garden, sits the piano studio where the wife’s students come to learn and play.

The studio opens onto the main living room and outdoor space, providing the opportunity for larger recitals and parties. The upper level houses the private spaces of home, including rooms for the children and guests. Ascending up the stairs, an operable skylight opens up to a spacious balcony and roof deck with unobstructed views to the north.”