The RCR compound occupies a sloping transition zone between a grassy meadow and forested butte in a rural Montana valley bookended by distant peaks.
The main house is organized as a series of connected building forms arrayed around an elevated courtyard. Volumes clad in vertical cedar siding are sheltered by light, expansive roofs that taper and tilt to visually weave the complex into the site’s topography. These volumes rest on a stone base that extends into the landscape toward the meadow and down a staircase to a lap pool. The expressiveness of the architecture is enhanced by its reductive material palette. Ledger-cut Montana sandstone, clear cedar, an oxidized steel roof, and steel wall paneling comprise a vocabulary that references the region’s vernacular and firmly grounds the compound in its site. Patinated metal speaks to the varicolored sandstone found in the fireplace stack, at the base of the house, and the exterior staircase.
Primary living and entertaining spaces reside on the upper level to enjoy the most expansive views and to better observe wildlife while benefitting from the warm southern light. The shared spaces flow seamlessly onto a covered exterior porch cantilevered above the meadow, while on the opposite side, nestled into the base of the butte, a library is positioned on an intimate courtyard. There an expressive sheltering roof tilts up to capture natural light and uphill views into the old-growth pine forest. The master bedroom and meditation area reside in a separate building connected by a glass bridge, creating a zone of privacy with secluded views into the canopy of an aspen grove.
The interiors feature clerestory windows and open-air skylights on adjacent roof overhangs to facilitate an ever-changing dialogue between light and material. Cedar, walnut, and plaster surfaces throughout the home create warmth while offering a backdrop for the client’s contemporary art collection, which culminates in a Richard Serra sculpture as a focal point within the meadow. Across the driveway to the north, a guest house completes the compound that gracefully inhabits the place where meadow meets forest.