ShineMaker | CLB Architects

Composed of three buildings (main house, guest house, and writer’s studio), the home is arranged as a set of simple box-like volumes, each designed in response to its specific location. The 6,000-square-foot main house is conceived as a geologic remnant in the landscape, located on the edge between field and forest. The 1,577-square-foot guest house and 580-square-foot writer’s studio are nestled more intimately within the wooded environment. A fourth, spiritually focused structure was recently completed and sited further to the south.

Throughout all buildings, the architecture is open, with sweeping views to mountain vistas of the Grand Tetons, natural fauna, forests, and meadows. Rectilinear in plan, the main house appears to grab surrounding trees as anchors, sinking in the center, and pulling upward toward the sky at the corners. Working in concert with the landscape, this dynamic quality is carried through the building’s charred shou sugi ban exterior, tugged and carved to create overhangs and openings. The wood exterior wraps into the interior as light Atlantic cedar, which then dissolves into subtle plaster and floor-to-ceiling glass.

Creative Retreat

The homeowners, authors who also own and manage an independent record label out of Mill Valley, California, were looking for a nature-oriented outpost in Wyoming in which to pursue their writing practice. Their bohemian lifestyle and love of music, literature, and the great outdoors inspired the interior design, which emphasizes layers, texture, and comfort. The earth-toned palette is punctuated by collectible pieces, vintage finds, and contemporary art.

Framing Nature

The entrance to the home is located where the structure reaches out over a lowland creek, the relationship revealed by a moment of transparency in the floor. Inside, each window frames a view of the prairie and Teton range beyond. An east-facing fireplace provides a counterpoint to the views, and an intimate courtyard allows southern light to penetrate the center of the home.