Bringing Nature In: How Architecture Can Embrace the Wild, West Coast Way
On the lush, rain-kissed shores of Vancouver Island, we often speak about living in harmony with nature. But few homes embody that philosophy as purely as the Newberg Residence in Oregon—a masterful design by Jim Cutler of Cutler Anderson Architects. Perched like a bridge over a former logging pond, the home dissolves the line between structure and setting, becoming part of the ecosystem rather than interrupting it.
While this particular home sits in the Oregon woodlands, its spirit is deeply resonant with our West Coast ethos. It reminds me powerfully of a home I sold at Dorcas Point—what we fondly called “the glass house.” With sweeping panes that mirrored the forest and shoreline beyond, that home didn’t just look at nature—it lived in it. Like the Newberg Residence, it invited wildlife to wander close, let light and weather pour in, and gave its residents a front-row seat to the rhythms of the sea and sky.
On Vancouver Island, homes like these aren’t just escapes—they’re invitations. They’re about stewardship and stillness. About feeling the pull of the tide under your floorboards or watching bald eagles trace circles through your morning coffee. This style of architecture isn’t about showing off—it’s about disappearing just enough to let the setting do the talking.
Whether you’re building new or buying something with history, the best homes here are the ones that belong. Not just to the land title—but to the land itself.
