WILLAMETTE RIVER GREENWAY RETREAT

This residential property along the Willamette River sought to revitalize its outdoor spaces, blending access and beauty while thoughtfully meeting conservation requirements. The design balanced two key goals: creating functional outdoor areas with easy access from the house to the boat dock and enhancing the natural beauty of the Wilamette River Greenway. Key features include a hot tub deck, fire pit with seating wall, and permeable paver and gravel pathways. The property's rear yard lies within the 100-year floodplain of the Willamette River, overlapping a Flood Management Area, the Willamette and Tualatin River Protection areas, and a Habitat Conservation Area (HCA), with much of it situated in the Willamette River Greenway. The additional volume added by the hot tub, deck, and wall improvements was offset by removing soil material and creating an aesthetic swale, ensuring no net increase in floodplain volume. Conservation efforts included preserving mature trees like Douglas Firs and Maples and using native and pollinator-friendly plantings to attract birds, butterflies, and bees. These thoughtful improvements enhanced the ecosystem, protected biodiversity, and ensured the landscape's resilience to flood conditions, while creating beautiful spaces to enjoy the views of the Willamette River.