2720 NW Forest Ave, Beaverton

Built in 1967, this Rummer-designed Mid Century Modern home in Beaverton’s Oak Hills neighborhood stands as a thoughtful expression of Pacific Northwest modernism, one that privileges daily living, landscape, and spatial clarity over spectacle. Developed by Robert Rummer , whose work translated California modern ideals for Oregon’s climate and culture, the house reflects a disciplined approach to modern residential design that remains remarkably current.

4

Bedrooms

3

Bathrooms

1967

Year Built

Robert Rummer

Developer

Mid-Century Modern

Style

Beaverton

Neighborhood

Rummer’s houses are often discussed as systems rather than objects, and this property exemplifies that philosophy. Organized around a central atrium, the plan dissolves the boundary between indoors and outdoors through floor to ceiling glazing and a continuous visual dialogue with planted courtyards. The atrium is not a gesture but a working heart of the home, bringing daylight deep into the interior while structuring circulation in a calm, legible way. Movement through the house feels intuitive, with public and private zones clearly articulated yet visually connected.


The structure is post and beam, expressed honestly and without ornament. Materials are restrained and tactile. Warm wood ceilings and exposed beams establish a horizontal rhythm, while concrete and masonry elements ground the house both literally and aesthetically. The extensive use of glass is carefully considered rather than expansive for its own sake. Views are framed toward the atrium and gardens rather than the street, reinforcing privacy while maintaining openness. This inward facing orientation is a hallmark of Rummer’s work and particularly well suited to the wooded context of Oak Hills.

Photo Credit: Modern Homes Collective / RMLS

Mid-century modern home with large glass windows and an open courtyard with a flowering tree.
Doorbell and dark wooden door beside a textured cream-colored wall.
Mid-century modern living room with a brown leather sofa, fireplace, and large windows with wooded views.
Mid-century modern home interior with floor-to-ceiling windows, wooden beams, and a view of a courtyard.

Interior spaces emphasize flexibility and proportion. Living and dining areas flow together without relying on open plan excess. Built in cabinetry, brick surfaces, and original detailing provide texture and depth, allowing the architecture itself to do the work typically assigned to decoration. Bedrooms maintain a quieter tone, with continued access to light and greenery, reinforcing the sense that every room participates in the larger whole.


The home’s relationship to landscape is essential. Rather than treating outdoor space as peripheral, the design integrates gardens as functional rooms. Sliding doors open directly to courtyards and patios, encouraging seasonal living and reinforcing the modernist ideal of continuity between built form and nature. This approach also reflects Rummer’s sensitivity to climate, using overhangs, orientation, and glazing to balance light, warmth, and shelter.

Kitchen with wood ceiling, island with stools, window, and sliding glass door.
Living room with wood paneling, sofa, art, and rug.
Mid-century modern home office with desk, artwork, wood paneling, and large windows.
Located in the Oak Hills neighborhood of Beaverton, the house is part of a historically significant concentration of modernist residences. Its listing on the National Register of Historic Places acknowledges not only its architectural integrity but also its role in a broader regional narrative. Oak Hills represents a moment when thoughtful, design forward housing was integrated into suburban development at scale, a legacy that continues to shape the area’s identity.

Mid-century modern home office with desk, art, wood paneling, and large windows.
Empty room with paneled walls, wood ceiling, window, and carpet.
Bedroom with wood ceiling, glass doors, bed, chairs, and colorful rug.
Bathroom with white vanity, round mirror, and doorway to another room.

Nearly six decades after its construction, this Rummer home remains a persuasive argument for modernism as lived architecture. It is not a museum piece but a working example of how clarity, restraint, and respect for environment can produce spaces that endure.