Weird Home Tour

We did the Weird Home Tour last weekend.  The tour originated in Austin, TX, and has expanded to other cities.    This tour benefited Central City Concern, who provided volunteers to staff the event.

This was the first weird home tour in the Portland area.  Some homes are on the tour by virtue of their unique architecture or form; think the airplane, shipping containers, domes etc.  Others are there based on the unique decorating style.  As a real estate broker, and the least creative person you'll ever meet (I can suck the creativity out of things), I'm drawn to the unique architecture.  Oh, I enjoy seeing weird decor, and there was plenty of that.

The real draw for us was the airplane house.  OPB did a story on it a few years ago, you can hear that story here.  The house is located in the woods, on the south end of Hillsboro.  We set out there first.  It was a lovely morning for a drive, and we really enjoyed getting outside the urban growth boundary on that side of town.  While there was decent signage, there wasn't clear information about parking, so there was a bit of a cluster getting parked on the narrow dirt road among the trees.

Those foundation cribs are doing some work

Doesn't your house have a cockpit?

Open the pod bay doors Hal.

The interior of the plane is primarily hollowed out. The overhead luggage bins have been removed, and a lucite/clear plastic floor put in.  Its cool to see the inner parts of the plane. In places, the "wall covering" on the inside walls has been removed.  Its pretty much a long, one room dwelling, with a somewhat makeshift shower. and the planes small bathroom is indeed, the bathroom.  The dwelling is hooked up to a septic/cesspool system, has running water and electricity.

The second house we went to was named Nautical Moderne, which was a cool, ranch with basement.  Predating mid-century modern, it for shadowed some of that styling, while being anchored a bit in an older style.  The homeowners has fabulous decor that really rounded out the feeling.  It had a great retro kitchen, with what must have been a first generation dishwasher.

Super duper streamlined

And this original banquette

There is a fun gallery of all the houses here

The last house we went to was "Serendipity"; billed as an accessible house.  Which it was, kind of.  It was very much a work in progress.  There were some interesting design features, providing accessibility, but I'd guess the house was a bit rough for most.

There were six houses in all.  We didn't make it to all of them.

For the first year, I thought it a fun tour.  The homeowners were all present, and quite gracious in opening their homes and so willing to talk about their passions and their projects.   I'll look forward to next year's tour.  I'd love to see more "weird" architecture.  I know the Portland area has plenty!  Do you have a wierd home, or know someone who does?  Sign up for next year!