T
he Camera House, a 24‑foot cube of corrugated aluminum with lens‑shaped windows, sits at 3200 S.W. Fairmount Blvd. in Portland’s Council Crest neighborhood. Designed by Willard Martin and built in 1976 on a 0.23‑acre lot, the home is now listed for $785,000. Its boxy silhouette has earned it a nickname that recalls a vintage camera, while its 1970s modern aesthetic—minimal ornamentation, geometric cutouts, and splashes of orange paint—makes it a local landmark.
Martin’s solution to the sloping site was to stack three 12‑by‑12‑foot modules into a cube, each level featuring tiers of windows and decks. The 1,762‑square‑foot interior boasts vaulted ceilings, sliding doors, hardwood floors, and a two‑story skylit atrium. The top floor hosts an office, a guest room with a pull‑out bed, and a bathroom. The middle level contains a dining room and kitchen, while the lowest level offers a primary suite, a family room with a wood‑burning fireplace, and the atrium’s expansive light.
The house was highlighted in a 1977 Sunset magazine cover story that celebrated its “small is more” philosophy. Listing broker Craig Weintz of Vetiver Street Real Estate describes the property as “equal parts architecture, art, and nature,” noting its proximity to Hillsdale markets, Council Crest Park, hiking trails, and downtown Portland. He calls it “cinematic, compact, and quietly luxurious,” with parquet floors, custom Greek sinks, and decks on every level that frame views of the surrounding trees.
Beyond this residence, Martin’s reputation extends to the 1980 national competition that produced Pioneer Courthouse Square, a downtown Portland public plaza. As chief designer, he collaborated with landscape architect Doug Macy, sculptor Lee Kelly, historian Terence O’Donnell, graphic artist Robert Reynolds, and writer Spencer Gill, earning a Progressive Architecture award in 1981. The plaza opened on April 6, 1984.
The Camera House offers a unique blend of modernist design, artistic flair, and natural setting—ideal for creatives seeking a sanctuary that is both a home and an experience.
