Little Deschutes Lodge is a low-income housing development for seniors located at 4000' elevation in the high desert of Central Oregon. The design was installed in 2013.

Challenge: Work with developers to integrate water harvesting, food production and habitat enhancement into a more conventional layout of buildings, parking lots and pathways.

Solution: Move parking and place gardens in the best sun locations, accentuate solar microclimate for plantings and social space, create water harvesting landscape and rainwater collection cisterns to meet irrigation needs, and create gathering areas throughout the site for residents to socialize. 

Lead designer: Andrew Millison.