across the u.s.mid-century modernoregon
Rummer homes, Oregon
Eichler-influenced post-and-beam houses built around Portland, Oregon by Robert Rummer from 1959 to 1975. Restore Oregon puts the total at about 750, roughly 300 of them modern, with clusters in Garden Home, Beaverton, Gresham and Lake Oswego. Twenty-nine are in the Oak Hills Historic District, listed on the National Register in 2013.
The housesThe rulesBefore you buy
- built1959–1975per Restore Oregon
- housesabout 750about 300 of them modern
- listed2013Oak Hills, National Register
- largest cluster62–65Bohmann Park, Garden Home
the houses
What makes them distinctive
- Post-and-beam gridEichler Network says A. Quincy Jones showed Rummer a post grid of six feet, four inches, which let large glass panes and sliding doors be standardized.
- Atriums and glassAtriums and loggias with walls of glass, and large window walls with sliding doors opening to the yards.
- Radiant slab heatHeat ran through the concrete slab in PVC tubing, a technology Eichler Network says Boeing developed, rather than the copper pipe Eichler used.
- Flat and low-pitch roofsBuilt-up tar-and-gravel roofs over cedar or Douglas fir tongue-and-groove decking.
- Built for Oregon wintersRestore Oregon describes “double construction”: an extra layer of framing and insulation.
- Eichler look-alikesEichler Network counts at least 16 Rummer models that closely resemble 1960s Eichler models by Claude Oakland and Jones & Emmons.
protection
Designation and the rules
- Oak Hills is listedThe Oak Hills Historic District in the Beaverton area of Washington County was listed on the National Register on July 10, 2013 (reference 13000482). It includes 29 Rummer houses among about 650 homes.
- What listing meansNational Register listing alone doesn’t restrict private owners.
- Oregon demolition reviewOregon requires local governments to review proposals to demolish or move National Register-listed properties (OAR 660-023-0200); Oregon Heritage advises checking with the local planning office.
- Associations and eligibilityThe Oak Hills homeowners association still has a leading role in managing the subdivision, according to the nomination as quoted by Cedar Mill News. Restore Oregon says Bohmann Park has been determined eligible for the National Register; we found no listing.
before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Radiant heatAsk which heating system the house has now and for its service history; hillside houses on foundations used forced air instead of slab heat.
- Roof historyAsk for the current roof’s age, type and repair records.
- Glass and moistureThese houses depend on big glass walls and sliders. Eichler Network describes one sale that fell through over mold, and a 2014 renovation found significant dry rot.
- What’s originalSome late-1960s houses got lesser paneling and sheetrock, and many original concrete floors are under later layers of flooring.
- ApprovalsIn Oak Hills, read the homeowners association rules and ask Washington County how National Register status affects demolition or moving a house.
Sources differ on the totals (about 750 houses, or nearly 1,000), on the Garden Home count (62 or about 65) and on A. Quincy Jones’ role in the designs, so treat counts as estimates.
sources
Where this comes from
Checked October 20, 2026.
- Eichler Network: Meet builder Robert Rummer (Joe Barthlow)Start, features, heating, roofs, Eichler model matches, Garden Home.www.eichlernetwork.com/article/meet-builder-robert-rummer
- Restore Oregon: Mr. Rummer’s Neighborhood (2023)Totals, years, Oak Hills, Bohmann Park eligibility, double construction.restoreoregon.org/?p=55254
- National Park Service: Oak Hills Historic District, NRIS 13000482National Register listing.npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/9c77c1e5-22be-4923-ac65-9394332a51e1
- Cedar Mill News: Oak Hills joins the National Register (2013)Listing date, Rummer count, association role.cedarmillnews.com/legacy/813/oak-hills.html
- Portland Monthly: a Rummer in Bohmann Park (2022)Bohmann Park count and location.www.pdxmonthly.com/articles/property-watch-rummer-midcentury-house-bohmann-park-garden-home-portland
- Oregon Heritage: National Register in OregonLocal review of demolition or relocation.www.oregon.gov/oprd/oh/pages/national-register.aspx
- National Park Service: National Register FAQNational Register listing places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property.www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/faqs.htm
questions
Questions we hear
How many Rummer houses were built?
About 750 from 1959 to 1975, roughly 300 of them modern, according to Restore Oregon; some earlier articles say nearly 1,000.
Is there a Rummer historic district?
The Oak Hills Historic District, listed on the National Register in 2013, includes 29 Rummer houses. Restore Oregon says Bohmann Park in Garden Home has been determined eligible.
Did Rummer use Eichler’s plans?
Eichler Network counts at least 16 Rummer models that closely resemble Eichler models by Claude Oakland and Jones & Emmons; a later Eichler Network tribute found no evidence of design work by A. Quincy Jones for Rummer.
more to learn
Keep going
- Claude Oakland homesThe architect behind many Eichler models.
- Jones & Emmons homesA. Quincy Jones’ Eichler work in the Bay Area.
- Mid-century modern across the U.S.Every guide in the series, coast to coast.
- Mid-century modern homes in Silicon ValleyThe style at home: where it is, what to look for.
- Silicon Valley Eichler tractsEvery Silicon Valley Eichler tract we cover, with live listings.
- Builder FilesThe builders and architects behind Bay Area homes.
General information from the sources listed, checked October 20, 2026; not legal, preservation or construction advice. Confirm designation and permit rules with the local preservation office before you buy or remodel. The Boyenga Team represents buyers and sellers in Santa Clara County, bay-side San Mateo County and San Francisco.
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