Riverfront Rarity
Deschutes Legacy Home
by Jennifer Walton
When Mike Szabo received the call and the description for a project on the Deschutes River, he wondered about its exact location, as few homes are sited so close to the water. After an introductory site walk with the client, he understood the rare opportunity he’d be given to reimagine the outdoor spaces and transform the property into a multi-generational home. His role was crucial from the onset.
“Normally, the city stance is to naturalize any improvements on the Deschutes River corridor, and that equates to preserving the natural beauty of the river with nothing too fabricated.”
–Mike Szabo, Szabo Landscape Architecture
The owners purchased the house in 2017 and they had a clear vision: to turn the existing structure and property into a retreat where extended family could gather and create lasting memories. Led by the owner’s brother, a talented architect from Chicago, and brought to life through the local expert hands of Szabo at Szabo Landscape Architecture, the project began with particular challenges due to stringent zoning codes that now would prohibit building so near to the river. However, the home’s original footprint, grandfathered in, allowed remodeling, rehabilitating, and, most importantly, improvements within its existing boundaries.
“Normally, the city stance is to naturalize any improvements on the Deschutes River corridor, and that equates to preserving the natural beauty of the river with nothing too fabricated,” says Szabo. “It was a fine line with how far out we could go, as in out of the house and toward the river,” he continues. “We wanted to use natural materials, such as stone and wood. We replaced all the dilapidated walls with stone walls, in this case, constructed walls clad in stone and natural boulders to build rock outcroppings in place of the old railroad tie walls. We wanted the design to feel built into the existing setting.” All of these large and small details add to the essence of the property’s site.
“We wanted to use natural materials, such as stone and wood. We replaced all the dilapidated walls with stone walls, in this case, constructed walls clad in stone and natural boulders to build rock outcroppings in place of the old railroad tie walls. We wanted the design to feel built into the existing setting.”
–Mike Szabo
Preserving and recreating a river’s energy and intangible elements while meeting the family’s desires for a functional, aesthetically pleasing environment requires honest communication. To set the stage for a meticulous and thoughtful renovation meant that every element needed to serve a purpose (practical paths and retaining walls), cater to a wide range of ages (young children and grandparents), and emphasize amenities (outdoor sauna and firepit) while honoring its unique location. The project’s success hinged on the close collaboration between the owner, architect, Szabo, and builder. “We were fortunate that the owners trusted us implicitly and allowed us to do what we thought was best. Their words were, ‘Don’t hold back,’” explains Szabo. That freedom and collaboration proved essential as the owner spent more time on the site and fell in love with different parts of the property. “We began to change the design to react to those new feelings and wants. We kept the overall site intact and made it look as though all of it was intentional and nothing was an afterthought. For instance, they decided they wanted an outdoor sauna pretty late in the build, and they wanted it to face the river so they could sit and look out at the view,” he adds. What presented itself as a must-have amenity demanded clever problem-solving and resulted in slipping the sauna into the utility corral, which houses the generator, A/C units, irrigation controllers, and pool and spa pumps. “We tucked in it there, and it worked out well because it also blocks the guest parking, creating a patio with a new vantage point of the river. The sauna and utility corral sit above the main gathering space that includes a built-in heated stone bench and custom firepit,” Szabo explains.
“We were fortunate that the owners trusted us implicitly and allowed us to do what we thought was best. Their words were, ‘Don’t hold back.’”
–Mike Szabo
Spending time on the site also influenced Szabo. A leftover area on the opposite side of the house started to feel really important to the character of the site, and Szabo thought it would make a perfect area for respite. Was it a necessity? No. Did it take some convincing? Yes. “I said to the owners, ‘I think you’re going to want this patio; it is separate and more peaceful than the entertainment patio. You can have your coffee here,” Szabo recalls. “It was a nice validation when they told me that’s the patio they sit on every morning, so it was worth it.” Their ongoing communication with the builder and landscape contractor, Landscape Elements, ensured that the design vision was realized accurately, with adjustments made in real-time to address on-site conditions.
Another significant challenge was maintaining the integrity of the natural landscape while choosing plants and hardscape materials. Planting and layering plants and trees are vital in providing natural boundaries and privacy. Szabo’s approach involved using a mix of native and adapted plants to create a harmonious transition from the wild riverbank to the cultivated areas near the structures. “We used native plants and materials, and as we got closer to the home, we incorporated ornamental species,” he says. “We didn’t want to carve out this beautiful piece of land and make it feel urban.” The deep respect for the property was evident. “We were very surgical about what we wanted to remove, and we wanted to remove as little as possible. We hired an arborist to give us a full report around the homesite, to let us know what was healthy, what could be hazardous (the owners wanted it to be safe for the kids and elderly), and what could be selectively removed or pruned. There were a lot of plants out there that you can’t replace; they’re not available at the native nurseries, so our goal was always to preserve as much as we could,” states Szabo.
“We used native plants and materials, and as we got closer to the home, we incorporated ornamental species. We didn’t want to carve out this beautiful piece of land and make it feel urban.”
–Mike Szabo, Szabo Landscape Architecture
The outdoor lighting design was kept simple and efficient, and all the lighting was low-voltage and shielded. “We are keen on preserving Bend’s dark skies,” he says. The design ethos remained steadfast: blend into the riparian environment. That included adding minimal wildlife fencing. “There is an adjacent park, and we wanted the wildlife to have unencumbered access to the river and its surrounding area during seasonal migrations,” Szabo adds.
This exceptional home is designed with nature at its riverfront and in the forefront of the collaborators. It is what can be achieved with architectural vision and landscape artistry coming together despite challenges posed by modern zoning restrictions. It became a family’s cherished destination for reunions, an architect’s dream come true, and a landscape architect and contractor’s project that defined creativity and commitment. It exemplifies the ultimate collaboration with nature as a guiding force.
