High Desert Butterfly

By Elizabeth Rogers (first published on JELD-WEN's website in February 2020 under maiden name)

Note: All photos are by Kayla McKenzie Photography

High Desert Butterfly is a two-level residence located in Bend, Oregon. Sitting at the forest’s edge with a stunning view of the Cascades, the home incorporates passive solar design and biophilic design principles, which promote positive interactions between people and nature, encouraging an expanded sense of relationship and responsibility for both human and natural communities.

LOCATION

Bend, Oregon

ARCHITECT

Tozer Design, LLC

BUILDER

Copperline Homes

DEALER

Pacific Rim Sash & Door

INTERIOR DESIGN

J.S. Brown Design

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Ashley + Vance Engineering

BUILDING TYPE

Residential

PRODUCTS USED

Various iterations of LaCantina’s Aluminum Thermally Controlled Sliding Door Systems

• Zero Post Multi Slide with Pocket / Stacking Combo •

• 3 Track Multi Slide• Single Track Sliding Pocket Doors

AWARDS

Best of LaCantina 2019 Best in Show and Best Rural Residential

Photo by Kayla McKenzie Photography

For three seasons of the year, High Desert Butterfly mimics the benefits of a shade tree, providing sheltered spaces below the gently sloping roofs and allowing generous, natural airflow through. According to Tozer Design, LLC founder and lead designer Al Tozer, the team strategically used exaggerated overhangs in the kitchen, living room and dining areas to work with the levels of the sun during all seasons.

“Not only do the doors and windows of High Desert Butterfly provide views of the outdoors and the connection with nature, they are used in conjunction with other architectural elements to create dynamic and diffuse light during each season,” he said.

Photo by Kayla McKenzie Photography

Tozer felt LaCantina was the best choice for maximizing the world-class Cascade views, and the clean aesthetic, modern profiles and symmetry worked well with the design concept.

 “The easy-to-operate, no-corner-post closure [gave] the owners an incredibly dramatic indoor-outdoor living space,” he said. “It was critical to have maximum glass and minimum frame at High Desert Butterfly. The LaCantina Aluminum Thermally Controlled products

provided this modern profile well.”

Photo by Kayla McKenzie Photography

Because creating natural airflow was also critical in this project, almost all the home’s doors and windows were operable instead of fixed glass.

Photo by Kayla McKenzie Photography

“What we really wanted to do is create cross ventilation across all our space. By using advanced operable door systems and windows, interior spaces not only offer a multitude of use to the outdoors, but occupants are afforded control over thermal airflow variability,” Tozer said.

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