Snowy Meadows Residence

Architect: Shands Studio Architecture - San Francisco, CA

Engineer: Lot Nineteen Engineers

Collaborators:

Montana Timber Products

Cascadia Windows

Teton Truss

Home Style: Mountain Modern

Price Range: $1,000,001 - $1,500,000

Design & Site-Specific Planning:

Shands Studio designed this modern house to take in views to the Grand Teton though floor to ceiling windows in the living room. Views into Teton Valley and the Big Hole Mountains are provided though a large, lift-slide, multi-panel door with gable windows above at the Kitchen/Dining space. Accommodating the driveway and garage on this hillside leveraged the beauty of power of gabion retaining walls. The outdoor patio uses a multi-tiered approach to provide both architectural interest and to avoid the need for a railing system.

Materials & Construction Detailing:

Cedar siding and a shingle roof provide protection from the harsh mountain snow, wind, and rain. Wrapped in Elevated Timberworks + Custom Construction’s proprietary, R-36, wall assembly and air-tight detailing using gaskets and high-performance European air-sealing tapes this home stays draft free and uniform in temperature throughout the long winter. Cold roof baffles over R-60+ dense packed cellulose cathedral ceilings keeps the heat in and the ice dams away.

Build Process & Problem Solving:

A design-build collaboration with Shands Studios, Elevated Timberworks+Custom Construction, and Lot Nineteen Engineers provided both awe inspiring, timeless designs as well as cost effective and constructible detailing to help meet both design goals and the client’s budget. Early integration and feedback from the build team is key to delivering a legacy quality home on an approachable budget.

Unique Aspects:

Exposed concrete slabs in the lower level not only look great but are durable and help regulate the temperatures in the lower level. Large windows utilize low solar-heat gain glazing to protect from the harsh western sun which can overheat houses in summer. Floor to ceiling balusters at the stairway conceal a hidden door to storage below. The wood stove provides all the supplemental heat this house needs keep the owner’s warm after a day of surfing Teton powder during cloudy storm cycles—that and the custom sauna.