Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Members of the Board for the Bend Area Habitat for Humanity approached Stemach Design + Architecture in 2017 to master plan their new ReStore; a non-profit home improvement store that takes unwanted household items and gives them new purpose. With that, the Stemach Design Team wholeheartedly embraced the cornerstone philosophy of the ReStore; that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

To begin, the old Backstrom's Builders Center was stripped and gutted in an extensive renovation with a sizable portion of the existing materials recycled, reused, and re-purposed. Most notably, the former metal roofing has been transformed into part of the building’s exterior siding. The remainder of the siding is entirely reclaimed cedar donated to the organization and installed by volunteers. The exterior wood siding has been left exposed so that, with time, it will oxidize and gracefully turn silver.

Donated materials and the dedication of those involved in this project translated to substantial savings for the organization and a striking building that that has become a landmark along Bend’s business parkway.