When architect Anthony Belluschi and his brother inherited the Portland, Oregon, home of their late father and stepmother, in 2009, their realtor pronounced the spectacularly sited modernist house a potential 'tear-town.' As Anthony stood stunned, he recalls, 'The first words out of my mouth were: 'Over my dead body'.'

Pietro built the 2,500-square-foot residence in 1948 for the D.C. Burkes on a secluded, wooded hillside with panoramic downtown and distant mountain views.