Capri Architecture designs a Neskowin retreat rooted in the landscape and long-term resilience.
Architect: Capri Architecture
Contractor: Riddle Construction
Photographer: David Papazian
Landscape Designer: Katie Shluka, Coyote Gardens
Perched at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, where surf breaks against the ancient stumps of the Neskowin Ghost Forest and Proposal Rock rises from the sea, sits an eye-catching coastal home that feels less placed on the land than carefully choreographed with it. Dubbed the Ghost Forest House, the home is a study in resilience and reverence for one of Oregon’s most breathtaking stretches of coastline.
“The minute we stepped onto this land, we knew the design needed to complement the natural beauty of the site,” says Dustin Capri of Newport-based Capri Architecture, who worked in collaboration with Riddle Construction on the project.
Floor-to-ceiling windows supplied by Innotech provide seemingly endless panoramic views South, West, and North, dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior. With the ocean ever-present, the house offers a rare sensation of being steps from the beach while remaining protected from the elements.
“This region has considerable unique challenges for construction that are unlike anywhere else in the country,” Capri says. “Having skilled craftspeople at Riddle Construction execute our Oregon Coast-specific architectural details resulted in a home built to last.”
Grade beam foundations, steel framing, and advanced structural strapping provide durability, while the building envelope, flashing details and materials were all designed to withstand wind-driven rain and protect against the coast’s intense corrosive environment. These conditions also inform the home’s dramatic cantilevered design, one of its defining features and a bold architectural move that is as functional as it is striking.
“Cantilevers have become an integral part of our design approach on many of our coastal projects,” Capri says. “Most people assume this is solely for aesthetic purposes, and while we are always drawn to the design opportunities afforded by cantilevers, the real reason is the challenges of the brutal coastal weather and geology.”
On nearly every project, Capri Architecture works closely with geological experts to identify potential future hazards and determine the best strategy for mitigating them.
“For the Ghost Forest House, we had a clearly defined geological setback and developed the cantilever to respond to that requirement, building out over the setback to place the living room closer to the view than would be allowed at ground level,” Capri says.
This balance of keeping the home intimately connected to the Pacific Ocean while maintaining long-term survivability proved to be both the project’s greatest challenge and triumph. But perhaps the most important element that contributed to the project’s success was partnership.
“This home was truly the result of incredible collaboration,” Capri says.
Homeowners Dan and Christina were deeply involved throughout the process, working closely with the architectural, construction, interior design, and landscape teams. Landscape designer Katie Shluka of Coyote Gardens completed the holistic vision, ensuring the exterior spaces feel equally grounded in the environment. Inside, the home’s coastal modern aesthetic features materials and finishes chosen to echo the landscape rather than overshadow it. The kitchen and living areas carry a distinctly light and bright coastal sensibility that is elegant yet relaxed. These spaces are elevated by thoughtful interior selections by the homeowners, whose vision and aesthetic goals for their new home informed the collaborative spirit that guided the project from start to finish.
At its heart, the Ghost Forest House is more than a beautiful coastal home—it is an experience. A place where modern design meets ancient landscape and where thoughtful architecture allows nature to take center stage.
“When you sit in the house, you feel like you’re sitting directly on the beach,” Capri says.
