639 SE ANDOVER PL, Portland, OR 97202

The Leedy House. Paul McKean’s AIA-recognized design is offered for the first time on the market. Known for his destination homes across Oregon, McKean’s work is noted in part for his intensive light studies, and Leedy is no exception. The reimagined 1964 split-level layout unfolds across four alternating floors, allowing for privacy and fluidity. Programmatic zones reveal themselves gradually, and the central stair becomes both an organizing element and a subtle clock, marking the shifting light as it moves across the day. The core of the project is essentially a functional vessel for light, while the central stair acts as a screen, producing dappled shadows and playful shifts in light throughout the day. The design carefully regulates illumination to create a balanced, indirect glow. As sunlight filters through the clerestory, it hits the walls, which are softly washed and reflect light deeper into the space. The result is a thoughtful blend of calculated light studies and material warmth. Set in the garden community of Garthwick—just four blocks between the historic Waverley Country Club and the Willamette River—the home is nestled within a lush, thoughtfully planned neighborhood. Like the bucolic communities inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted, Garthwick feels like an extended outdoor space. It offers all the charm and walkability of Sellwood, but with a quieter, slower rhythm just over the county line in Clackamas. Only a handful of homes come to market here each year. A detached gym building sits just beyond, with beautiful high ceilings and a retractable door. It reflects a broader shift: the integration of wellness and work into the domestic realm—no longer separate, but essential to how we live now. The lower floor functions like an attached ADU. Beyond its architectural merit, Leedy has had a cultural life as well. It has appeared in multiple episodes of Portlandia and American Vandal, a fitting backdrop for stories that capture a certain Portland spirit. [Home Energy Score = 3. HES Report at https://rpt.greenbuildingregistry.com/hes/OR10239133]