Hacker, an Oregon’s leading architectural firm, was recognized in late January with multiple Wood Design & Building Awards from the Canadian Wood Council. The Black Butte Ranch Lakeside (or Bistro/Pool/Recreation Complex), located in Central Oregon, was the only project recognized with three awards. They included Merit Award, Sustainable Forestry Initiative Award and Western Red Cedar Award.
The over 200 submissions to this annual program showcased the possibilities for broader applications of wood in future buildings. “The Wood Design Awards program is an opportunity for design teams to showcase applications of wood/wood products that ultimately lead to safe, strong and sophisticated buildings and that inspire others to use wood in construction.” commented Etienne Lalonde, vice-president of market development for the Canadian Wood Council.
Black Butte’s Lakeside
First planned in the early l970s, Black Butte Ranch is an iconic Oregon resort community located near Sisters, Oregon. The new “Lakeside” replaces the well-worn main pool facility with two buildings that house a bistro with indoor and outdoor seating, an outdoor pool and hot tub, locker rooms, a fitness room, an activity center and outdoor play area.
The design set out to do three things: evolve the legacy of Pacific Northwest regional modernism at the Ranch, intensify the connection to the landscape, and enhance the user experience. Inspired by the barn-like simplicity of the award-winning Country House Condominiums and the abstracted landform roof lines of the Lodge, the design evolves the building tradition to become more profoundly connected to the surrounding landscape. By creating a variety of spaces at the boundary between inside and outside, the design offers varied levels of connection to the landscape.
