Alcoa House, Experimental aluminum residence in Raleigh Hills, Oregon
The Alcoa House is an experimental residence in Raleigh Hills, Oregon, built in 1957 to showcase a groundbreaking aluminum structure for residential use. It features floor-to-ceiling windows and a center-focused kitchen layout with prefabricated parts and aluminum wall panels designed to flood the interior with daylight.
Architect Charles M. Goodman designed the house for the Aluminum Company of America to demonstrate how aluminum could be used in residential construction after World War Two. The project was part of a movement to introduce new materials and building methods into modern housing.
The home reflects mid-century living through its open layout that connects different rooms and blends indoor and outdoor areas naturally. Its design was meant to show families how modern life could work with innovative materials.
Visit during daylight to fully experience how the large windows and glass panels flood the rooms with natural light from different angles. Take time to observe the construction details and how the aluminum framework is visible throughout the design.
Only 24 of the originally planned 48 houses were actually built across 16 states because production costs far exceeded what was anticipated. This limited number makes the house a rare example of an ambitious postwar project that never reached its full vision.
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