Living on the edge isn’t for everyone. But at Discovery West, the edge means something different; it’s where Bend meets the wild. Stepping outside your back door leads into the calm of the Deschutes National Forest, where you can spin your wheels at Phil’s Trail or scout for osprey nests in Shevlin Park. The same team behind NorthWest Crossing (Brooks Resources and Tennant Developments) has created another thoughtfully planned neighborhood that connects community, nature and lifestyle.
Discovery West offers mixed-use retail and a diverse array of housing, including an area for short-term overnight stays, an option not offered in NorthWest Crossing (fondly referred to as NWX by locals). When fully built out, it will be half the size of neighboring NWX, but residents and visitors will still enjoy walkable access to the neighborhood’s amenities, such as restaurants, wine bars, the Grove Market Hall, a bookstore and the popular summer Saturday farmers market.
At the heart of Discovery West is Discovery Corner, a circular plaza and retail hub opened in 2024, designed for gathering around a firepit sculpture and mosaic mural, encouraging relaxation, connection and community.
Valerie Yost Delves into the Discovery West Neighborhood
How does Discovery West differ from NorthWest Crossing?
The most noticeable difference is its smaller scale, but also its layout with mixed-use housing and retail organized around Discovery Corner, a central plaza with businesses oriented toward foot traffic rather than along busy streets. We placed townhomes and attached cottages near the plaza to create a sense of density in the urban core. As streets fan outward, single-family homes populate the landscape.
Breaking new ground from NWX’s traditional approach, Discovery West is introducing 20 luxury townhomes above street-level retail in the plaza for vacation rentals in a neighborhood setting. AvantStay, a national company specializing in short-term rentals in more than 100 cities, hosts Aerie by AvantStay at Discovery Corner. Each fully furnished unit has two or three bedrooms and a bird’s eye view over the neighborhood, expansive decks with hot tubs, outdoor furniture and BBQs for relaxing in a quiet setting. And they’re pet friendly!
Discovery Corner was designed as a gathering space and venue for neighborhood events. We integrated power and water access for vendors and entertainment, including a stage, and ample infrastructure for food trucks and services, all without needing to close roads. From our experience in NWX, we learned the value of a dedicated event space that minimizes disruptions to nearby businesses and residents.
What’s the vision behind the art installations in Discovery West?
Honoring our theme of discovery, we embrace opportunities to celebrate its spirit through public art thoughtfully placed throughout the neighborhood. Oregon artist Jenny Ellsworth created a 600-pound steel firepit sculpture that anchors Discovery Corner where people can gather year-round, warming up by the fire or sipping a favorite beverage while listening or dancing to live music at neighborhood events. Encircling the firepit is “Mechanical Waves,” a near-ground mosaic by Bend artist Rochelle Rose-Schueler inspired by sound waves, hydraulic waves and tectonic energy.
Another ode to the arts can be found on the lower side of Discovery West in the green zone, where walkers and cyclists may be surprised to find the Discovery Park Labyrinth. In partnership with Bend Park and Recreation District and with support from the Bend Sustainability Fund, the labyrinth was created by designers Lea Goode-Harris and Marilyn Larson of Creative Labyrinths to make a serene place to wander and connect with nature. Collaborative projects like this welcome the entire community.
Our theme of discovery first emerged when naming streets. We quickly realized most of the explorers we first thought to name streets after were men. That sparked a deeper journey: uncovering remarkable women whose contributions to science, space and exploration deserved to be celebrated. Today, our Women of Discovery are honored throughout the neighborhood in street names, art, bronze medallions around Discovery Corner and banners—proof that discovery can mean so much more. Among them are Annie Londonderry, the first woman to bicycle around the world in 1894; Marie Tharp, a geologist and oceanographic cartographer who provided proof for the theory of plate tectonics; and Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space and former director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
How is buying a home in Discovery West different than buying in other areas?
We work with a hand-selected group of talented builders, our Discovery West Builders Guild, known for exceptional craftsmanship and a strong grasp of our design vision. We offer our builders finished homesites in each phase, and they bring them to life with a mix of 10 approved architectural styles, from classic craftsman and American farmhouse to sleek mid-century modern and minimalist Scandinavian. This thoughtful variety gives the neighborhood a timeless, custom feel, like it’s been here for generations. Whether families are looking for a beautifully designed spec home or want to build something truly custom, our builders can make it happen.
Come check out 4 plus homes on the Discovery West walking tour. Start at 1204 NW Skyline Ranch at 3 for drinks and apps. Walking tour starts at 4pm, May 29, Thursday
We are so excited to announce the Grand Opening of Skye Design Interiors & Co. – your new premier destination for exquisite furniture, refined décor, and timeless style. Come celebrate with us! Champagne & hors d’oeuvres, grand opening specials, and Four Hands gift bags & raffle for exclusive Four Hands art work.
Let your space tell a story of elegance with Skye Design Interiors & Co. We can’t wait to see you there!
Your kitchen is more than just a room—it’s the heart of your home. If it’s time to make your kitchen as functional and beautiful as it deserves to be, we’ve got the perfect first step for you.
Join us Saturday morning for our Kitchen Remodeling Workshop and learn how you can bring your dream kitchen to life!
Here’s what you’ll discover:
Kitchen design trends that can elevate your space.
A step-by-step introduction to our design/build remodeling process.
Real-life inspiration from before-and-after transformations.
Solutions to common design challenges that create stunning results.
This workshop is your chance to meet our designers, gain expert insights, explore creative possibilities, and feel empowered to start planning your kitchen remodel with confidence.
Having completed an extensive remodel of one of their homes before (a 1910-built Craftsman), Tyson Gillard and his family set out to find “a light fixer” when they relocated to Bend in 2022. They discovered a 1977 ranch-style home in southeast Bend, full of potential for reshaping into a multigenerational compound. As an architect, general contractor and founder of Life Design Build, Gillard was ideally suited to remodeling the home, which, among other improvements on the property, included gutting the old primary bathroom and modernizing it.
Before
The original bathroom, with its cream-colored walls and bland countertops, lacked character. The remodel was more a transformation to create a spalike ambiance featuring warm, textured, nature-inspired materials that added richness, depth and more natural light. Gillard shared insights into the process and the thoughtful choices he and his family made throughout the remodel.
After
Q&A with Tyson Gillard of Life Design Build
Many ranch-style homes from the ’70s and ’80s have seen minimal updates. What factors make remodeling a home practical, both structurally and financially?
Tyson Gillard
Start by asking if you genuinely love your home and if it has the “good bones” needed for remodeling. We liked our neighborhood, and while our home was dated, it was still fully functional. We tackled the remodel by gutting the old bathroom but kept costs down by building the new shower and sinks in the same place as before and doing some of the work and all the management ourselves. Removing the tub also allowed us to add an enclosed water closet, maximizing space and utility.
Conceptually, what were the driving elements of the remodel?
We designed the space as a spa-like retreat, using nature-inspired materials like a dynamic wood ceiling made of exotic Okoume board and rough-sawn cedar. This ceiling also brings a modern interpretation of a cozy log cabin interior. An extra-large shower with dual heads allows for two-person use. Dark wood accents and the absence of white on any surfaces create a darker, moody and colorfully vibrant space, while natural light floods in through a new skylight and an expanded existing one. Green tiles with salmon-colored variations wrap the room, paired with radiant heated floors for added warmth. A floating concrete vanity by Cement Elegance introduces a sleek, contemporary touch, while new thermal and acoustic insulation prioritizes energy performance and privacy.
Your business, Life Design Build, has offered a full range of services since 2022, from design conceptualization to general contracting. How does this integrated model benefit clients?
Clients’ budgets and desires are rarely aligned, particularly with the recent rise in construction costs post-pandemic. Our model addresses both design and construction costs early in planning, aligning them through our robust design process. This spares clients the hassle of sourcing multiple contractor bids that will likely exceed their budget and the associated extreme disappointment of getting excited about and paying for a design they can’t afford. We aim to establish and manage a realistic budget early and throughout the project’s lifespan, leading to fewer surprises and a smoother overall experience.
With a dedicated team of 16—including three project managers, three designers (myself included), and eight in-house carpenters—Life Design Build also takes on construction-only and design-only projects. However, I tell clients that we provide the most value when we do both, providing continuity of care and communication from start to finish.
Beyond the design-build delivery model, what other aspects might interest clients?
While we have a disposition toward biophilic (nature-inspired) modern design and a passion for sustainable building solutions, a few other aspects of our business are important for clients to know. First and foremost, timely and transparent updates on design, schedule and cost are key to smart decision-making and helping clients have agency in their projects. After all, in the end, it’s their house and money.Second, we pride ourselves on not being a “one-trick pony” and are excited to work with clients with an array or stylistic interests and with any budget level. The variety actually makes our jobs more interesting. Whatever the style or budget, we want to execute it exceptionally well. Like most architects and carpenters, our team takes pride in craftsmanship and elegant detailing.
