Preservationists and developers. An age-old feud. One guards provenance, while the other chases possibility. But what happens when a house straddles both worlds—too wounded to survive untouched, too important to raze? Can these two disparate camps salvage the story together?<br /><br />In Lake Oswego, Oregon the low-slung lakefront residence—once known as the John M. and Elizabeth Bates House No. 4—was the penultimate commission of Wade Hampton Pipes, a pivotal voice in Oregon’s Arts and Crafts movement. Pipes designed everything. Structure, landscape, furnishings, finishes. A total work of art completed in 1954.<br /><br />The home would eventually be added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. Honor, however, could not stop entropy. By 2018 the custom furniture and built-ins Pipes had crafted were missing. Wood trim warped. Windows were cracked.<br /><br />Enter the current owner, Ralph Martinez, who opted for restoration. Although not a developer by trade, Martinez is seasoned in ambitious renovations and saw possibilities where others saw liabilities, says Terry Sprague, founder and CEO of the Lake Oswego brokerage, LUXE. “Ralph always has a strong vision for his restorations. For 4101 South Shore, he developed that vision from the question: how would Pipes repair his own masterpiece if he were alive today?”<br /><br />To chase that answer, he enlisted architect Curt Olson and invited scrutiny from the National Register. Rather than argue, the trio collaborated.<br /><br />From that restrained framework, however, major upgrades followed. Floors became rift-sawn white oak, their grain a subtle compass guiding the eye. A linear fireplace now slices through a Vermont black granite feature wall. At the center, a quartzite island—Crystal Pearl with a waterfall edge and velvet finish—anchors the kitchen.<br /><br />After four years of work, the 6,140-square-foot home is now being offered for sale at $10.4 million. All told, the project is both resurrection and evolution.<br />Read the full story: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2025/06/11/historic-lake-oswego-home--returns-to-market-at-104-million-after-artful-revival/ <br /><br /><br />Subscribe to Forbes Life: https://www.youtube.com/c/ForbesLife?sub_confirmation=1<br /><br />Stay Connected<br />Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes<br />Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbesvideo<br />Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbesvideo<br />More From Forbes: http://forbes.com<br /><br />Forbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.
