Embodying the Japanese concept of omotenashi, or hospitality, the design of this home centers on creating connection between family members and guests, and between people and the natural environment all around. Juxtaposing large-scale gestures with intimate moments, the design evolves as a series of distinct experiences across scales, resulting in a home that strikes a balance between expansiveness and the Scandinavian concept of hygge, or coziness.
The clients, a family with a deep connection to skiing and the alpine environment, sought a ski-in, ski-out home that could accommodate multi-generational gatherings while maintaining a sense of intimacy and retreat. With roots on the East Coast and a tradition of wintering in Montana, their vision prioritized sustainability, hospitality, and a design balancing Japanese and Scandinavian influences with the familiar warmth of traditional mountain materials.
The home reveals itself through a progressive unearthing, beginning in an enclosed courtyard on the lower level. Carved away from the home’s primary volume, the canyon-like courtyard is clad in Hermosa limestone and establishes a sense of porosity, where interior spaces are connected to the outdoors to allow light and air to flow through. Beginning in the courtyard, the entry experience culminates in the interior light-filled upper level, where interconnected living spaces including a great room, dining area and kitchen along with a set of guest suites and primary suite all encircle the courtyard below. Here, the “zen den,” a moody dining room offset from the main floor, provides a contrasting space for intimate gatherings, defined by dark wood paneling that frames the room as an aperture for views of Lone Peak beyond.
Outside, the upper level is clad in charred shou sugi ban cedar, contrasting with the light spruce wood and oak flooring used throughout the interiors. The lower level consists of two parallel bars framing the courtyard, both clad in limestone to anchor the home to the site. Here, more intimate gathering spaces are distributed across the two bars, including a family room, bunk room, wine cellar, guest room, laundry, and a dedicated ski room and spa.
An attention to craft and detail defines interior spaces, with blackened steel accents and a minimalist palette of tonal woods and stone creating a harmonious, serene atmosphere. A collection of custom furnishings designed in collaboration with artisans help complete the interior environment. Capping it all, a mass timber roof in a folded form spans the structure, its shed-like geometry creating varied interior volumes—from the intimate 10-foot ceilings of the primary suite to the expansive 18-foot-tall great room. The roof’s dynamic form imbues every room with a uniquely scaled connection to the surrounding landscape.
Perched on a rocky scree field with challenging soil conditions, achieving the home’s high-altitude siting required significant geoengineering, including the installation of micro-piles to anchor the structure securely. This site work also allowed for the installation of geothermal wells which harness the inherent qualities of the earth to help heat and cool the home. The home’s integrated rainwater catchment system filters runoff through a cistern and into irrigation for the native landscaping.