For most Portlanders, Forest Park needs no introduction. It is, after all, the crown jewel of our park system. At 5,200 acres, it's one of the largest urban forests in the United States and has more than 80 miles of trails. The Forest Park neighborhood, however, is a bit harder to pin down. It clocks in at almost 12,000 acres, bordering the eight-mile edge of the park and encompassing a fair amount of NW Skyline Boulevard. Known for its easy park access and views, it’s no wonder the neighborhood has attracted an architect or two to design some notable houses that commune with nature. 

Take this one on NW Miller Road. It was built in 1950, just after Forest Park became official in 1948, on a generous 2.63-acre lot with expansive views and a plethora of trees. The house is rumored to have been designed by architect Walter Hagestad, who is credited for the original OMSI building (which later became the now-closed Portland Children’s Museum in Washington Park).  

So, too, does this house present low and lean at the driveway, with an inset entry. But come around back and find a stepped glass facade. There, several of the upstairs rooms are wrapped in custom windows topped with clerestories. The stepped walls ensure those far-reaching views are balanced with interior privacy, especially in the living room and primary suite, which both have windows on three sides for an immersive indoor/outdoor effect. 

The upstairs floor plan is neatly divided, with the main rooms to the left, and a wing of bedrooms, bathrooms, and an office to the right. (The lower level has two additional bedrooms, two bathrooms, a gym, and family room, for a total of 5,044 square feet.) Much of the midcentury detail remains, from the elongated Roman brick that ensconces the fireplaces in both the living room and den to walls of built-ins and wood paneling.  

Recent updates to the kitchen and baths bring on more modern good looks without losing sight of the original. In the bathrooms, find double vanities and stone-clad walk-in showers. In the kitchen, an extra-long prep island with waterfall counter and high-end appliances are combined with handsome wood cabinetry that nods to the home’s original time and place. 

Glass doors merge seamlessly with the window walls, creating even more connection between inside and out, augmented by the many outdoor rooms. These include a dining area with its own fireplace off the kitchen and a lounge tucked under the deep roof eave, accessed by both the living room and den. The primary bedroom even has two spots to choose from: a patio with table, chairs, and views, and a standalone shelter that not only echoes the larger house in materials and form but promises its own nature fix. 

Listing Fast Facts 

• Address: 400 NW Miller Rd, Portland, OR 97229
• Size: 5044 square feet/5 bed/5 bath 
• List Date: 3/18/2026 
• List Price:  $2,399,000 
• Listing Agent: Marisa Swenson, Modern Homes Collective

Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. Contact Dalton here. 

Editor’s Note: Portland Monthly’s “Property Watch” column takes a weekly look at an interesting home in Portland’s real estate market (with periodic ventures to the burbs and points beyond, for good measure). Got a home you think would work for this column? Get in touch at [email protected].