Near Wilson, in an open, grassy meadow with expansive views, the 4,500-square foot Shoshone Residence shows that some of the firm’s best work comes from collaborative clients.
Clients knew they wanted contemporary, but not urban contemporary. They also wanted a mountain home, but not a log cabin. The kitchen had to be functional and include a wood-burning pizza oven. Rooms needed to be generous, but still feel intimate. Clients did not want more space than they could live in. They knew they wanted a wood and stone materials palette.
The team interpreted these ideas into a design of simple forms executed with a materials palette that met the constraints for wood and stone, and added steel. The pizza oven, wrapped in grey-colored steel panels anchors the kitchen, which has huge sliding panels that, when open, make the clients feel like they’re outside. Ceilings in an eat-in area were lowered to seven feet to create an experience of intimacy. Teak creates a refined master bathroom that is modern without being sterile. White oak runs down the stairs like wallpaper; the stairs feel sculptural without being visually overcomplicated.
A glass-walled, covered “bridge” connects the public and private areas of the home. The two wings extend to create a courtyard for outdoor living during Wyoming’s short summer season.
Broad overhangs, articulated in hemlock, protect the building from harsh weather. The exterior is clad in cedar, which dissolves into screens to create pattern and depth.