Italian-American architect Pietro Belluschi had a guiding hand in shaping Pacific Northwest Modernism, and this Portland property has a very special place in that oeuvre.

The Joss House dates from 1940 and was commissioned by Philip and Mary Joss in Northwest Portland’s Forest Park neighbourhood. It’s one of Belluschi’s earliest residential projects, building on the success of his model home design for the 1939 Northwest Home Show.

The couple’s budget was modest at $4,000 (around $85,000 in today’s money), and for this sum, they requested a two-bedroom home adapted for the region’s wet climate. Belluschi delivered a pitched roof design with deep eaves to protect against the rain and large windows that draw light into the deepest recesses of the home, even on a cloudy day. His L-shaped plan is functional – a sleeping wing with shared spaces in the other. Interiors, meanwhile, were inspired by a Norwegian cabin, most notably in the living room, with its vaulted hemlock ceiling, cedar walls, oak flooring, and a large concrete fireplace.

Belluschi’s original design also included a carport and studio, which have since been converted into two additional bedrooms. The kitchen and bathrooms have also been updated, and the cedar and oak surfaces have all been restored.

The architect later worked on much larger projects, including the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco and the Pan Am Building in New York.

Marisa Swenson of Modern Homes Collective is listing the Joss House for $1.695m.

[Source: Oregon Live]

Read next: This historic Massachusetts home is a window to the pas

What would you do with this private island in San Francisco?