Capri Architecture and Mike Riddle Construction work together to find unique building solutions on the Oregon Coast.
Photos by David Papazian
The challenge for Capri Architecture and Mike Riddle Construction was real: how to design and build a home in Pacific City on a unique cliffside lot on the Oregon Coast that dropped almost 30 feet down from the road. And not just design and build a home on the lot, but do it in a way that captured the property’s stunning Pacific Ocean vistas while keeping a street-level garage from taking over the site.
“One of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to provide vehicle access but also preserving the upper levels for living space,” says Dustin Capri, who co-founded Capri Architecture in Newport with his wife and fellow architect, Amanda, in 2014. “There’s a very significant drop in topography, so if you don’t do something unique here, you’re going to lose the best views and the upper level is going to be dominated by a car.”
Though the situation was a unique one, it was not unlike other projects that Capri and Mike Riddle Construction have worked on and creatively solved before. The two firms have been partnering on residential projects on the Coast since 2019 and have developed a unique collaboration that’s led to many satisfied customers.
“We have discussions with Mike throughout the entire process,” Capri says. “There is a constant dialogue where Mike and his team are providing construction expertise and feedback as we’re working through the design. Every single time, the process just keeps getting better — and our customers are benefiting in the end.”
“I would say it’s atypical in the industry,” Mike Riddle says. “My typical analogy is that it’s like a farm: Most architects live in their own silos; same with builders and other subs. But with Capri, we have one giant barn, and we all work with each other very, very well. That’s critical to providing the level of quality that our clients demand.”
To overcome the conundrum in Pacific City, Capri and Riddle approached it differently than many would. They figured out a way to tuck the garage down below on the hillside, which preserved the upper level for scenic living space set against expansive coastal views. Key to the solution was a concrete pedestrian bridge that links the top level of the home to the driveway. As a result, the upper floor hosts the main living space, which includes a wall of windows framing the Pacific, as well as a covered outdoor space and sundeck; bedrooms are one level down, and the garage is below on the ground floor.
“Most architects and designers would have said there’s no real way to do this, we’re just going to have to put the garage on the top floor,” Riddle says. “That would have meant getting rid of the outdoor living area and sundeck and the living and dining rooms just to have a garage. With Capri, it’s all about creativity. It takes that creativity and willingness to step outside the comfort zone.”
For more information, visit capriarchitecture.com and mikeriddleconstruction.com.
