Robert Harvey Oshatz

Robert Harvey Oshatz (born October 3, 1945) is an American architect based in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He is known for his innovative and organic architectural designs that seamlessly integrate with their natural surroundings. With a career spanning over five decades, Oshatz has gained international recognition for his distinctive approach to architecture, which emphasizes a harmonious relationship between built environments and the natural world.
== Early life and education ==
Oshatz was born in Los Angeles, California. He exhibited an early passion for architecture and the natural world, which would later become central themes in his work. He grew up in the Fairfax District absorbing the principles of Organic Architecture through osmosis by attending art and music exhibitions as a child with his family at the Barnsdall Art Park a.k.a. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House. His older brother, artist Steven Oshatz gifted him the book, “Sixty years of living architecture: The work of Frank Lloyd Wright” when Robert first expressed interest in the profession. It served as a guide to his earliest concepts of architecture.
Oshatz graduated from Fairfax High School then completed undergraduate studies in architecture at Arizona State University and gained early formative experience in the profession as a draftsman at the Los Angeles Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright, Jr. during summers and after completing his degree. Since completing his studies he has maintained a lasting dialogue and friendship with his fellow ASU classmate and professional peer, Bart Prince.
== Career ==
Oshatz trained as an apprentice in the Los Angeles practice of Robert J Lee at age fifteen when he started high school. By his sixteenth year Oshatz entered a set of working drawings he produced for a hypothetical house to the Industrial Arts Exposition at the California State Fair in 1962 which garnered a second place red ribbon. The design and drawings show the maturity and technical expertise of a draftsman ten years his senior. 
At age seventeen while a senior in high school he produced another hypothetical design presentation for a house inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Eaglefeather” residence in Malibu, California. Again, at a young age his mastery of the architect’s basic methodologies of drafting and composition are advanced beyond what many practicing architects achieve in their lifetime.
In 1971, Oshatz established his own architectural practice, Robert Harvey Oshatz Architect, in Portland, Oregon. Over the years, he has completed a diverse range of projects, including private residences, multi-family housing, commercial spaces, and cultural institutions. His designs have garnered acclaim for their ability to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, creating immersive environments that celebrate the beauty of nature.
His work is characterized by the integration of organic forms, extensive use of wood and other natural materials, and an emphasis on sustainable design principles.
One of Oshatz's most iconic works is the Wilkinson Residence (completed in 2007), located in Portland. This residence features sweeping curves, extensive use of wood, and large expanses of glass that provide panoramic views of the surrounding forest. The Wilkinson Residence received numerous awards and was widely published in architectural journals and books.
== Design philosophy ==
Central to Oshatz's design philosophy is the belief that architecture should be a continuation of nature, rather than a separation from it. He often draws inspiration from the organic forms and patterns found in the natural world, incorporating them into his designs in a way that fosters a sense of harmony and tranquility. Oshatz is also a proponent of sustainable architecture, advocating for the use of eco-friendly materials and technologies such as|ground source heat pumps that minimize the environmental impact of his projects.
Category:American people
Category:American architects
Category:1945 births