Riverfront
Terrace
Location: Bend, OR
Project Partners
Architect: Karen Smuland
Builder: Trevin Duey Construction
Photography: Cheryl McIntosh
Riverfront Terrace was designed to create layered outdoor living spaces that felt deeply connected to the land, house, and the Deschutes River below. The project transforms a steep, constrained site within the City of Bend’s Waterway Overlay Zone into a sequence of terraces and gathering spaces that honor strict environmental protections while meeting a family’s desire for year-round outdoor living.
Working with the architect and developer, we designed the landscape, hardscape, site lighting, and site amenities across the site, from street edges to interior courtyards. Special attention was given to how the market hall opens onto outdoor gathering spaces, with broad walks, stepped terraces, and integrated planting that invite people to move easily between interior food counters, neighborhood sidewalks, and bike routes.
Site amenities were custom-detailed throughout the site to ensure a cohesive aesthetic. From the community fire pit to the ipe-clad bench and bar counter, the resulting plaza space feels modern, durable, and integrated into the Central Oregon and community landscape.
At the prominent corner of the site, a terraced public plaza that serves as The Grove’s outdoor living room was created with flexible seating, firepits, and planters that soften the modern architecture while preserving clear sightlines to ground-floor tenants. Durable, Northwest-appropriate materials and a simple, native plant palette keep maintenance manageable for the owner while ensuring the space feels active and inviting in all seasons, from sunny weekend mornings at the coffee bar to cool evening gatherings around the fire.
Completed in the summer of 2021, The Grove quickly became a much-welcomed addition to NorthWest Crossing, giving residents and visitors a place to meet friends, grab a bite, and linger outdoors without leaving the neighborhood. For SZABO Landscape Architecture, the project exemplifies how thoughtful site design, lighting, and planting can transform a pair of buildings into a true community hub that supports everyday life from early morning through late evening.
