When I wrote the original Cullen House article I never imagined it would gain the popularity it did. As promised, I have been in contact with Jeff Kovel from Skylab Architecture and have prepared the following interview/bio along with a few more images for all the mad fans!
“I am in architecture, development, and rock and roll.”
- Jeff Kovel
Jeff Kovel grew up just outside of New York City and lived there until he attended Cornell University’s Architecture school. Since then he has made his way to the West Coast and in 1996 he finally settled down in Portland, Oregon. However, it was while growing up in New York that Jeff realised he wished to become an architect. His family had begun work on a new home and a young Jeff thus developed a new fascination for both building and design.
It was three years after arriving in Portland when 26 year old Jeff founded his own architecture firm, Skylab architecture. He admits that he started his practice at a very young age and wishes that he’d worked under other architects beforehand. Nevertheless, Skylab Architecture has grown into a fully fledged successful firm. When asked what the most rewarding aspect of practicing architecture is, Kovel explains “We [architects] have carved out a niche that allows us to explore and innovate. The most rewarding part of this career is the work which we are able to create with this open format.”
Kovel likens his own design philosophies to storytelling. “We bring concepts to life, each of these concepts is a story,” he says. “The paragraphs are like spaces, the words, materials. Each project is a unique deep investigation into this story telling…
Our process is research based, and iterative. We look for authentic meaning and relationships. We do not rush aesthetic conclusions.”
Kovel explains that his inspiration comes from many different architectural sources. “I love many progressive architects from all eras of modernism, I appreciate the periods prior as well. There isn’t a subject I would rather talk about.”
As I’m sure many of you can relate, Jeff Kovel and Skylab architecture became known to me through the film Twilight; what many of us have come to know as the Cullen residence is actually the ‘Hoke Residence’, so I asked Jeff about how the house came to be.
“The Hoke residence was originally built as a ‘spec’ house [This simply means it was built, with the speculation of finding a suitable buyer], or a project built without a client as a development for sale.
After two days on the market, the house was purchased by the director of footwear design at Nike, John Hoke. Following a cover story in a northwest architecture publication, The Hoke’s were approached by a film location scout, a little film called Twilight.”
“We designed the house in 2006, completed construction in 2007. We have designed an additional residence next door that will begin construction once we locate another vampire”
“This December, we took our staff to see the movie to start our holiday party. We all loved it. We have been receiving fan mail from all over the world, including many inquiries for the house plans – contacts from Croatia, The Philippines, Buenos Aires, and Melbourne Australia among others.”
There is more to Skylab architecture beyond the Hoke House – amoungst Skylab’s impressive folio is also the following..
Montgomery residence
Nau Webfront
‘North’
12 + Alder
More images on these projects and more can be found at Skylab Architecture’s website.
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This house is sooooo awesum!
If I become a rich girl ( a very rich girl) I want to have it!!!!!!!!!!
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I love that house!!! Words can’t say how well of a job was done designing it. It’s beautiful!!!!!!! I’d love to live there…. with the “Cullens” of course. Lol
Extremely enchanting. I hope that someday, I can have a house similar to Hoke’s.
I could probably live in a dream for the moment.. looking at this everyday =)
Beautiful architecture. Wonderful use of glass and space. I especially like the kitchen and the layout of the island. The large windows are especially attractive in an area such as yours. The wood on the ceiling is a beautiful touch. It brings a ring of earthiness to the modernism. I don’t know much about architecture, but my brother is an architect of large buildings and I sent the link on to him. He would love this house. He loves doing things with glass.
About the Twilight angle, it wasn’t at all what I envisioned, but it is a beautiful house anyway and fits the movie well.
Good luck with your architectural firm. I expect to see other amazing projects from you.
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As a second year architecture student and an avid twilight fan, I have to thank you immensely for this and the previous article. My fellow archie friends and I fell in love with the house when we saw the movie. I’ll be sure to forward this to them as it fits perfectly in our little niche. It’s an interesting article and the pictures are gorgeous. Thanks again!
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OMG THAT HOUSE IS BEUTIFULL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT TO LIVE THERE WITH EDWARD HE IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOT!!! AND ALL MYN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I ♥ EDWARD CULLEN AND I ♥ TWILIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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i love the house i would love to live there i love the design i like how it has that kind of retro look to it i love houses like that even though i am a huge country girl i just love outside view and the stairs like the city folk say OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
… i like this house, a lot, but i really didnt feel like it has the Cullens’ personality. Its too new. The Cullens’ are soposed to be really old fashioned. I’m sorry but in the book they described Edward’s bedroom to have thick gold carpet and dark walls. It was totally wrong.
Still adore the movie though<3
beautiful house!! i love the modern touch to it…but if new moon is shot in vancouver….how will they do the beginning with bella’s birthday at the cullen’s house??
i saw this article on hisgoldeneyes.com
this house is just WOW (:
i like so wanna like in it-with the “cullens” haha
i really really like it :)
i need to live here! LUCKY Hokes!! :/ NOT FAIR!
I want to live here of course, cause they filmed Twilight here,
It is BEAUTIFUL!
and Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, ASHLEY GREENE (my idol), JACKSON RATHBONE (i love him [i love them all just Jackson the most]), Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, and Elizabeth Reaser all were in it!! I would lie where they walked like all day :p haha
I WANT TO LIVE HERE SO BADLY!
This is an awsome house guys!
I truly wanna live here :D <3
can i move in with the cullens? :D :D xD
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I LOVE this house, and if I EVER become rich i’m gonna have Jeff build my house and make it look just like the Cullen’s!
I love the house!!!! It is amazing. Also ALICE CULLEN Rox!!!!!
OMG, I want that house!
It is AWSOME! PLus vampires lived in it so…
OME i love this house its so cool and its awsome for the cullens!!!
I wish I can have a house like this one day.
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The house is pretty however it looks NOTHING like the house in Twilight.
The house in Twilight was white – old – almost with a Victorian feel – this house is so modern contemporary, it is NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING like the house in the book. Were you asked to create a house for the Cullens (if so, did you even read the book???) or was this a house that was already built, that someone made a poor decision to use?
i’m interested to see this house on google earth. Please if you can, give me a rough address. Is not necesary to give the exactly address. I’m waiting your answer. Thanks
I think the Cullen House is really awesome! A perfect house for a Perfect Family.
I will like to have the house plans, because maybe, maybe if I am rich when I grow up, I will like my house to be like this one!
Beatiful home, I’ll be so happy to live there. What I like most are the windows ajja. It’s not the house to steph’s related, but it is equally amazing. The perfect, serene, loving, and away house. Perfect for them, as for any of us!
I was a little upset about the change from the victorian house to the more contemporary house, but it does look like a place where the Cullens might live. I wouldn’t turn it down if somebody offered it to me. It is one of the more beautiful contemporary houses that I have seen in my lifetime.
the location for the cullen house was scouted and decided upon before it was published in a magazine.
the scout was familiar with various architects work in the area and tracked the house down through the architects website where there was one photograph that was particularly evocative of something the cullens might live it.
The house appeared in January 08 ‘Portland spaces’ presumably with no knowledge of the twilight movie.
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Those houses look AMAZING!
Сколько стоит этот дом?
Hi..Can u show me an overview of the Hoke House??please???
Tnx…
Hi…Do u have any floorplans or an overview of the Hoke house??
Hihihihi…i love the House..it RocKS!
Please?
Hi! The house is fantastic.. :) The best residence ever I see… Can I ask where can I find this? For example on google maps? Where should I look for? :D
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i am your #1FAN!!!!!! i almostreaded all the books. if the cullen were real i would jump out of a big tree and wait for dr.carlisle cullen to come and bite me. it would be cool.then i would go live with them forever. TWILIGHT ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i know where the house is.
i live less then a mile away