Lefty Ranch is located on the historic bed of Wyoming’s Snake River on a 35-acre property with remnant corrals and outbuildings ranging across it. A stand of mature pine trees forms the western boundary of the property, which features a large pond that reflects the surrounding views of the Teton and Gros Ventre Mountain Ranges.
The main building is inspired by the regional vernacular expressed in “loafing sheds,” traditional agrarian structures used for shielding livestock from the elements. The home is contained under a single shed roof, its shape articulated to define a south-facing interior courtyard where an ornamental maple tree serves as focal point. The structure’s simple form is abstracted, with deeply carved overhangs that create shelter and signal entry points. Views of undulating ridges and valleys are mimicked in the building’s profile, while generous glass expanses create transparency. A roof connects the living space to the edge of the large pond, where stairs descend from the terrace directly into the water.
Programmatically, the house is arranged with public rooms, entertainment areas, and outdoor spaces connecting to the pond and oriented to capture the most expansive views. To create a museum-like feel for the house, service functions are condensed along the interior courtyard, deliberately separated from the public spaces.
The main house is clad in limestone, each stone face chiseled to create depth and texture. Inside, the living room features an aperture in the sloping ceiling oriented to draw southern light, which traces the room during daylight hours. A reductive interior palette features ceilings and floors of white oak and locally quarried limestone. Deliberately placed glazing serves to admit light and frame views to privately commissioned artworks and the dramatic surrounding landscape.