Text description provided by the architects. Designed and constructed in the early 1970s, Black Butte Ranch is positioned at the foothills of The Three Sisters mountains in Oregon’s Central Cascades, serving as the passage to Oregon’s arid desert from the Central Willamette Valley. The 1,800-acre property has evolved into both a residence for year-round inhabitants and a favored holiday spot. The Ranch community commenced a detailed redevelopment plan in 2013, and after collaborating with Hacker on the new Lakeside recreational and dining complex (finalized in 2016) and a new General Store (inaugurated in 2021), the focus of the team shifted toward the resort’s half-century-old Lodge. As one of the original edifices of the Ranch, the Lodge’s distinctive period architecture made it cherished by many, including the Hacker design squad. Hacker’s assessment uncovered accessibility challenges, outdated mechanical systems, and a layout that was not practical for renovation. Following the choice for new construction, Hacker initiated a thorough year-long outreach effort to comprehend the community’s aspirations and priorities regarding its replacement.
As with Hacker’s projects in other areas of the Ranch, the new edifice aspires to respect and develop the design vernacular of the original ranch structures and is planned to enhance the experience of the adjacent landscape through meticulous framing and layering of views, along with a thoughtful interpretation of regional materials and forms. The interior honors the ranch tradition of emphasizing wood through its exposed framework and finishes, employing contrasting hues of indigenous wood species to evoke a feeling of warmth and openness. The entire area centers around a uniquely textured double-height stone fireplace, rekindling the nostalgia associated with the old lodge within the new structure. The restaurant booths give the impression of being sculpted away in the same manner the nearby Metolius river has carved out pools in the underlying lava flows. As much timber from the original lodge as feasible has been repurposed to make guard rails, screens, furniture, and wall finishes. This connection extends outdoors where a preserved Pine tree on site could not be retained, so it was transformed into custom tabletops for the restaurant and bar. The exterior is adorned in Shou Sugi Ban (charred cedar), a traditional wood treatment that sustains the weathered appearance of the previous building while providing enhanced durability and reinforcing the connection to the wildfires endemic to the area. This emphasis on local resources is also evident in the landscape design, which incorporates drought-resistant native plants, promoting habitat creation and honoring the surrounding ecosystem. Building materials were sourced regionally where feasible, contributing to the Lodge’s distinctive architecture while minimizing transportation impacts and bolstering the local economy.
The new 27,000-square-foot establishment comprises double the area of the existing Lodge and is segmented into three primary divisions: communal spaces featuring a restaurant, bar, a fireside lounge, an upper floor lounge and bar, a private dining space, and an outdoor lounge, a private gathering space with a spacious event room (divisible into two separate areas), a large dressing area and meeting room, along with a cutting-edge kitchen with expanded catering facilities, centrally positioned to cater to the entire complex’s needs.