Brian Libby is a Portland-based architecture writer who has contributed to Dwell since 2004. He has also written for The New York Times, Architect, CityLab, Salon, Metropolis, Architectural Record and The Oregonian, among others. Libby additionally writes the Portland Architecture blog and is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer.

A William Wurster–Designed Gem in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights Asks $6.9 Million
With sumptuous Douglas fir–clad interiors, an extensive back garden by Thomas Church, and an espionage-tinged backstory, this...
A Redwood-Clad Craftsman With Japanese Influences Asks $1.35M in Berkeley, CA
Reconstructed by Kip Mesirow, the renowned local builder behind Berkeley’s famed Chez Panisse restaurant, the 1,736-square-foot...
Pierre Koenig’s Wilheim House Asks $2.9M in Los Angeles
The T-shaped residence combines Koenig’s trademark steel-and-glass construction with warm wooden accents, which were unexpected...
Frank Herbert Wrote “Dune” in This San Francisco Home, Now Asking $1.6 Million
Art Deco and Victorian touches, plus an ample backyard garden, give this Potrero Hill two-bedroom presence as well as pedigree.
A Santa Monica Midcentury by a Late Actor Turned Architect Lists for $3.15 Million
Once home to local architect William Wallace Reid and his wife, Paula, the 1953 residence is a fusion of wood, glass, and...
The James Cutler–Designed Home of Best-Selling Author Richard Preston Asks $3.5 Million
Built on the footprint of an old stone barn, Freestone Farm takes inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright and ancient Greece.
Listed at $2M, a Hollywood Hills Midcentury Hovers in a Sycamore Canopy
A 1961 post-and-beam residence in Nichols Canyon cantilevers over the wooded hillside.
Icon Just Unveiled Plans for a Massive Neighborhood of 3D-Printed Homes in Austin, Texas
The 3D-printing company Icon has partnered with Bjarke Ingels Group and homebuilder Lennar for their most ambitious project to...
At 820 Square Feet, This Glass-Ensconced Cabin Feels Bigger Than It Is
With its large covered porch and glazed walls, the Beaver Creek Cabin frames the forest like a picture.
Sea Ranch Master Planner Lawrence Halprin’s Cliff-Hugging Residence Lists for $8M
The home and studio of the legendary landscape architect features a glass solarium and outdoor amphitheater.
The Haunted House From “The Conjuring” Is Up for Sale Just in Time for Halloween
Like the popular movie franchise, this New England farmhouse is ready for another sequel.
Budget Breakdown: A Seattle Architect Crafts a Hardworking Shed for Just Over $2,200
A humble composition of two-by-fours, plywood, and polycarbonate, the Uphill Utilitarian is a flexible storage space and studio.
A Portland Home Combines Midcentury Style and Sustainable Design as It Bridges Wetlands
The Patton New Century House treads lightly on the land while providing wide-open living spaces.
Budget Breakdown: An Oregon Retreat Revamped for $135K Channels Nautical Wes Anderson Vibes
In the tiny community of Cape Meares, a DIY couple turn an unassuming shingled house into a maritime-inspired getaway.
Budget Breakdown: A Portland Home Packs an Off-Grid Punch for $820K
On challenging terrain overlooking a wetland, Minarik Architecture creates a resilient, dual-volume residence.
Cubes Give Way to Curves at a Revamped 1980s House in Manhattan Beach Asking $4.25 Million
Less than a mile from the ocean, this home’s warm, minimalist interiors create an escape all its own.
A Concrete Beach House in Mexico Opens a Portal to Epic Surfing
Homeowner and surfer Christopher Hansen envisions a secluded oceanfront retreat that lets him keep an eye on the waves.
Nova Scotia’s B2 Lofts Put a Contemporary Twist on a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In the historic center of Lunenburg, old and new mixed-use apartment buildings find common ground.
Before & After: A Couple’s Careful Restoration of an L.A. Midcentury Earns It Landmark Status
Acting as their own general contractors, the homeowners respectfully update architect Doug Rucker’s redwood-clad Hogan Residence.
Budget Breakdown: A Gable Cottage Clad in Cork Pops Up in New York for $381K
Ninety minutes outside New York City, a young couple’s first house riffs on agricultural vernacular with a green twist.
Budget Breakdown: This Revamped New Orleans Home Is Part Urban Loft and Part Cathedral
A classic Big Easy house with a fanciful facade gets a $427K renovation that balances authenticity and imagination.
A Restored ’60s Home on Lake Oswego Channels Swanky “Mad Men” Vibes
With wall-to-wall wood and panoramic views, this modish midcentury sets the tone for relaxation just minutes from downtown...
Budget Breakdown: An Architect Couple Build a Net-Zero Home and Studio for $250 Per Square Foot
eMZed Architecture construct a sustainable, durable, high-performance residence and office in Portland, Oregon, for $950,000—an...
A Creative Couple’s Redwood-Clad Home Draws In Panoramic Bay Area Views
Elizabeth Paige Smith and Christopher Stringer’s hilltop retreat is a lucent gem on an impressive perch.
A Shingle-Clad Home on the Oregon Coast Wraps Around a Cozy Courtyard
Tucked into a forested hillside, the Arch Cape House shields its owners from the elements while opening to spectacular views.
Wild California Meets Manicured Japan in This Family’s Backyard Garden Oasis
A couple transform their backyard into a botanical children’s playland and an ideal entertaining spot.
An Empty-Nester Couple’s Resort-Like Retreat Overlooks Silicon Valley
For a couple’s forever home, SB Architects draw from resort design to effortlessly blend indoors and out.
This Hermosa Beach Home With an Underwater Pool Window Nails California Living
Drawing from Nordic, midcentury modern, and beach house traditions, this family home is serene yet playful.
This Handcrafted Home in British Columbia Has Joyful Camp Vibes
The V-shaped lakefront retreat strikes a balance between privacy and welcoming a houseful of guests.
A Portland Midcentury Home Shines After an Epic, Decade-Long Renovation
Nestled into a forested hillside, the Cain Wong Residence fuses clean lines and chalet-like charm.
An Actor-Turned-Designer Couple Build a Dream Home in Oregon
This residence in Lake Oswego cascades down a hillside to embrace its waterfront locale.
A 1901 Craftsman in Seattle Gets a Svelte Cantilevered Addition
Blending old with new, a major remodel of this early 20th-century home includes a new rear designed by Best Practice Architecture.
This V-Shaped House’s Front Courtyard Opens Up to the Neighborhood
In West Vancouver, Architecture Building Culture creates an inviting residence that makes the most of a tricky, triangular site.
A Venice Penthouse Showcases Matchless Views and a Legendary Designer’s Evolution
For his top-floor apartment, Aldo Cibic draws inspiration from the city’s history as a colorful east-west crossroads.
A Radiant Remodel Revitalizes a Dark Seattle Tudor House
An artist takes an unorthodox approach to the renovation of a century-old residence in Seattle.
A Designer Updates a 1971 Home by Celebrated Washington Architect Moritz Kundig
Josh Hissong takes on the mantle of one of Washington’s most noted architects with a reverent renovation.