Oregon Home | 39 even more of that view by converting what was supposed to be a simple roof into a oneof-a-kind observation deck accessed by a spiral staircase. “We just realized what an incredible view they had from there, so we added a staircase and railings,” Amanda says. “There’s a little French door off the bathroom, so they can go out and enjoy the view and the fresh air.” In addition to getting creative to make the site work for this particular home, Dustin and Amanda had to adapt in another way during this project: When the homeowners first called them, it was January 2020. Dailey was completing a medical fellowship on the East Coast, and Ennis was living in Ohio, so they started meeting with them digitally, assuming they’d get together in person when the couple relocated to Oregon. “Then COVID hit and that evaporated,” Amanda says. For much of the rest of the project, the architects and homeowners met mostly throughout Zoom. “It’s not revolutionary anymore, but we always talk about how that project became a pivot for our whole process,” Dustin says. “Now Zoom is so ingrained in our firm, but it was a big transition at the time.” And while Zoom does work almost as well as in-person meetings between architects and clients, it does have its limitations. Case in point: When designing one of the bathrooms for the home, the architects suggested a window in the shower with a sill height of 5 feet, 4 inches. Having never met the couple in person, they didn’t know Ennis was just under 5 feet tall. “We all laughed about that,” Amanda says. “So even though you can do most things digitally these days, I still maintain there’s no substitute for being in person, on-site.” capriarchitecture.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==